Many Texans are familiar with the Houston National Cemetery as Texas is number one in total military recruits (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard), second in Iraq War casualties, and third in the total number of Department of Defense Active Military as ranked by salaries and wages.
“What can one person do?” asked Alex, seven-year old boy of his father. “There are so many,” he said while looking at the gravesites and turned around looking a bit bewildered.
One unique way to honor our fallen soldiers who have served our country is to show the spirit of Texas by donating a live wreath to have laid on a burial site.
A father-son-team and many volunteers have a collaborated effort to have a wreath placed on each burial site at the Houston National Cemetery on December 13, 2008 at 11:00am CST. This organization is called Wreaths Across America - Houston and they are looking for monetary donations and volunteers to help with this large effort. Fundraising must be completed by the end of September. Arlington Cemetery traditionally has the largest amount of live wreaths with 10,000 being placed during December, and this year Houston is working to place 53,000 wreaths, the most ever done in the US.
About Wreaths Across America - Houston
In 2007 one of the Wreaths Across America - Houston team members went to attend the ceremony at the Houston National Cemetery with his son. This was the beginning of a goal for not only one boy and his dad, but also several volunteers. On this day father and son found out and realized the Houston National Cemetery does not receive the live wreaths for all burial sites. The National Cemetery does receive the seven large wreaths (each representing one of the branches of services and the MIA/POW’s) as all other National Cemeteries do. The ceremony is held to place the seven larger wreaths in the front of the National Cemetery. But what about each of the fallen soldier’s grave sites? There the challenge began for Houston to show the Nation how we honor our fallen soldiers, raise the funds, recruit volunteers and place a wreath on all 53,000+ grave sites at the Houston National Cemetery on December 13, 2008.
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