An important milestone occurred this weekend across 45 minutes on a humid and foggy Saturday morning for the Biloxi National Cemetery. The unit, which honors well over 17,000 of the nation’s veterans (going back to the war with Mexico) and their spouses, celebrated its 10th annual Christmas wreath drive.
Sadly, the number of wreaths grows each season. Total number of wreaths this year pushed the 25,000 mark
In an effort that costs the government or the VA nothing, a core of volunteers– heavy with youth groups such as Scouts and JROTC– covered the grounds with donated wreaths, making sure every gravesite had one.
Of course, the background work included local businesses donating funds for wreaths and new bows (replaced yearly) and further smaller teams of volunteers who worked all day Thursday unloading and Friday staging the wreaths/affixing new bows, but the work went cheerfully.
I am glad to have participated in this mission for the past several years with my family.
I try to say a little piece and acknowledge the individual Veteran on each of the wreaths I install, in addition to taking it upon myself to cover the graves of those I knew personally.
A pole/broomstick/piece of PVC pipe (and a buddy to carry the other end) helps greatly.
Of course, the crowds of volunteers will be smaller on Jan. 7th when we go to pick them back up but, that’s part of the job!
If you have a national cemetery in your area that doesn’t do something similar, please think about starting such an effort.
If they already do, please join in the effort. Every pair of hands helps!