Ernest Hemingway once said, “Every man has two deaths, when he is buried in the ground and the last time someone says his name. In some ways men can be immortal.”

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas strive to perpetuate the memory of Texas heroes. This Saturday they will do just that by immortalizing 700 Brown County veterans buried at Greenleaf Cemetery. The Daughters and volunteers will say the names of veterans buried there, thank them for their service, and place a Christmas wreath on their headstone.

The DRT invites the public to join them in placing wreaths this Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at Greenleaf.

“It’s a melancholy yet stirring encounter to place the wreath on a veteran’s grave,” said DRT member Mary Lee Bailey Shelton. “As you stand alone by this veteran you never knew, say their name, and thank them, you grasp the sacrifices these strangers, these heroes, made for our freedom. We want them to rest in honor and glory.”

“Time will not dim the glory of their deeds” said Gen. John J. Pershing of the American soldiers defending the United States of America during World War II.

Two thousand veterans are buried at Greenleaf, representing every war from the Texas Revolution forward. This year generous Brownwood businesses and individuals sponsored 700 wreaths.

The DRT needs lots of volunteers, Shelton said, and hopes that Brownwood attends the event in big numbers. She suggests people arrive early and enjoy complimentary Starbucks coffee, hot chocolate and baked goods. A short patriotic ceremony will precede the wreath placement.

There is limited seating provided for the ceremony, Shelton added, so attendees might consider bringing a lawn chair.