• December 13, 2022

Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America

150 150 Elect Todd Hunter

Recognition of the service and sacrifice of our veterans, and their families, is especially important during the traditional holiday season. The Wreaths Across America program is an annual tradition that serves to honor and remember men and women of the armed forces who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country. Founded in 1992, the Wreaths Across America program was first initiated by a donation from the Harrington, Maine-based Worcester Wreath Company of 5,000 holiday wreaths to be placed on the headstones of our nation’s fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery. Wreaths Across America has grown from a local, community-based outreach program to national nonprofit organization with a mission dedicated to remembering, honor, and teach by celebrating the lives of fallen armed service men and women.

Today, Wreaths Across America has grown to include state and federal cemeteries across the country as well as twenty-four veteran’s cemeteries located on foreign soil. The organization collaborates with local partners and trucking companies to carry out its mission. During previous events trucking companies have helped deliver over three hundred loads of wreaths to over 1,000 sites across the country.

In 2008, the annual tradition received an official designation from the United States Congress, which proclaimed that one Saturday each December be known as National Wreaths Across America Day. This important event is to be held on Saturday, December 17th. Wreaths Across America will take place in Corpus Christi at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery which is located at 9974 IH 37 Access Road Corpus Christi, TX 78410. Also at Seaside Memorial Park, 4357 Ocean Drive in Corpus Christi. In Port Aransas, a Wreaths Across America event will take place at the Royal Palm Cemetery. The address for the Royal Palm Cemetery is 2342 South 11th Street, Port Aransas, TX, 78373. Additionally, the Wreaths Across America event for Aransas County will be at Veterans Memorial Park, which is located at Veterans Memorial Drive, Rockport, TX 78382. All three of these events will begin at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 17th. It is important to remember and celebrate the lives of our fallen soldiers.

An important component of the Wreaths Across America program is to teach younger generations the value of our country’s freedoms and the importance of honoring the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform in the name of protecting those freedoms. To fulfill this mission, Wreaths Across America’s touches the lives of thousands of schools, scout, civic and religious groups across the country through fundraising for wreath sponsorships. In addition, Wreaths Across America offers many downloadable teaching materials.

There are several ways for those looking to get involved with Wreaths Across America during this year’s event, including sponsoring a wreath or volunteering at local wreath-laying events across the Coastal Bend. In addition to its wreath-laying program, the organization also has other initiatives to pay homage to veterans throughout the year. To learn more visit Wreaths Across America.

If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this week’s article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. Please always feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas state agency, or if you would like to contact my office regarding constituent services. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns, or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).

– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32

Rep. Hunter represents Aransas County and Nueces County (Part). He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.texas.gov or at 512-463-0672.