More than 700 wreaths were placed on the graves of Veterans buried in Greenleaf Cemetery today, as part of the National Wreaths Across America Day. The local Welcome W. Chandler chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas organizes the event every year. Mary Lee Bailey Shelton, wreath liaison for the local DRT chapter, explained the event: “Every year since 2008 Congress declares a Saturday in December as National Wreaths Across America Day. For centuries evergreens have been used as an honor and a living tribute. Wreaths Across America believes that the tradition represents a living memorial that honors veterans, active-duty military, and their families. You are one of two million volunteers world-wide who on this day are placing wreaths on headstones of fallen heroes in more than four thousand locations in all fifty states, Puerto Rico, and foreign countries.”
Dr. Julie Welker, President of the local DRT, described the reasoning and the sentiment behind the event: “In this cemetery lay veterans whose families arrived in America at Plymouth Rock on a ship filled with Puritans. In this cemetery lay veterans whose families arrived in America on a slave ship. In this cemetery lay veterans whose families arrived in America even walking across Texas’ southern border as a farm laborer, or as a settler here. Regardless of how our ancestors arrived, they came to this country, and finally to Texas, for a better life for their descendants. And we are proud of all of us that represent our different descendants and our ancestors, that we can be here today.
“But the freedoms we enjoy today do not come without a price, as our veterans know. Lying here before us, are the men and women who gave their lives so we can live without fear. We can worship as we see fit. We can work. We have the right to vote for the leaders of our choosing. We have the right to succeed, and to fail even, in whatever endeavor we wish to pursue.
“And so today we show a united front of gratitude and respect across the United States as we remember the fallen, honor those who served, and teach the next generations the value of freedom. The United States of America were founded on those ideals of justice, freedom, and equality. Our nation stands as a shining beacon of liberty and freedom to the world. And we thank those who gave their lives to keep us free. And we shall not forget you; we shall remember.”
The Veterans Remarks portion of the program was delivered by former Army Captain Paul Wade, a Vietnam helicopter pilot and Purple Heart recipient. Wade is currently Commander of the local American Legion Post 196. “We are the men and women who took and accepted the responsibility of standing up for this country. For the rights that were brought up. For the ability to speak, the ability to pray, the ability to stand in this room today with your own thoughts. The American Legion…represents every one of those branches of service you see behind us. The four million members of the 12,000 Posts around the nation sponsor and continue to support this event. And we want you to understand how proud we are to be here today.”
A special part of the event was the presentation of flags, the “colors”, on six white horses of the Hardin-Simmons University equestrian team.
Special wreaths were on display to represent and honor the seven branches of military service in this country — Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, Space Force — plus the Prisoners 0f War and Missing in Action.
Following all the remarks, “Taps” was played by Chris Robinson, graduate of Brownwood High School and now a student at Texas A&M University.
A three-canon salute was fired by Jeff Meadow.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, dozens of attendees fanned out across the cemetery and placed the more than 700 wreaths on veterans’ graves.
