Cemeteries in Allen, Farmersville, Blue Ridge, Dallas, Lowry Crossing, McKinney, Rowlett— and throughout Texas and the U.S. — will remember, honor and teach at wreath laying ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 17, as part of National Wreaths Across America Day. 

The ceremonies, which start promptly at 11 a.m. nationwide, honors veterans for their service in a final end-of-year tribute by placing fresh evergreen wreaths with red bows —delivered from Maine —in remembrance.

For the past 31 years, the nonprofit, Wreaths Across America, has sent more than 14.4 million wreaths to various locations, including national cemeteries and veterans’ memorials in all 50 states and overseas. In 2021, approximately 2.4 million veterans’ remembrance wreaths were delivered to 3,137 locations across the United States.

In Farmersville, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Lodge 228 will host its inaugural Wreaths Across America ceremony at the IOOF Cemetery. Billie Goldstein, IOOF boardmember, is leading the cemetery’s effort to support the Wreaths across America program.

Goldstein said she first became interested in the program last year after reading about it in the “In & Around Magazine.” The article, combined with the fact that the Goldstein’s family includes many who served or are currently serving, spurred Goldstein’s effort to buy a WAA wreath last year in support of a veteran buried at the Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney.

To Login to read the full story or to subscribe, visit https://publisher.etype.services/Murphy-Monitor