Coordinators for Wreaths Across America, a national nonprofit that honors veterans, were concerned that the organization would not meet its holiday goal in DFW this year, but area residents stepped in to support their cause.
Wreaths Across America, established in 2007, honors the lives of past veterans by placing specially designed wreaths at the gravestones of service men and women. The organization currently has over 3,700 participating locations across the United States, and last year, it placed over 2.7 million wreaths, according to the group’s website.
The organization’s local chapter, Wreaths Across DFW, works to provide wreaths for veterans interred at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, located on Mountain Creek Parkway in Dallas.
The 638-acre cemetery is one of the six national cemeteries in the state of Texas and the 118th in the national cemetery system, according to the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. A total of 152 acres of the land is dedicated to providing 85,778 casketed sites and 31,918 “columbaria/garden niches” for veterans. When fully developed, the site will provide burial space for 280,00 eligible veterans and dependents.
Larry Allen, a 74-year-old U.S. Marine veteran of the Vietnam War and a Wreaths Across America volunteer, told NBC 5 DFW that he participates with the organization to honor family and friends in service and those he had served alongside.
“You cannot imagine the emotions,” said Allen, per NBC 5. “I never, never not cry when I’m laying that wreath. Never.”
Wreaths Across America encourages the public to donate to ensure each veteran’s gravestone receives a wreath. Each wreath costs $17, and for every two purchased, a third is donated for free.
Although primarily purchased during the Christmas holiday season, Misty Weaver, lead coordinator for Wreaths Across America at DFW National Cemetery, said that these wreaths are distinct from Christmas wreaths, describing them as “military wreaths.”
“The shape is for eternity, and the red bow is for the great sacrifice,” said Weaver, according to NBC 5.
This year, the local chapter’s goal was 52,850 wreaths, with a donation deadline of 11:59 p.m. on November 28.
The odds of meeting that goal looked slim on Monday.
“We are short about 18,000 right now,” Weaver said at the time, according to NBC 5. “So it’s yeah, I’m concerned. We definitely need everyone’s help.”
Weaver said that if they did not meet the goal by the deadline, some veterans’ headstones would not receive a wreath. She described the heartbreak she would feel if they could not place wreaths at each headstone.
“It makes you feel like you failed them,” said Weaver, per NBC 5.
However, residents and business owners stepped up to ensure the local Wreaths Across America chapter reached its goal. As of Tuesday at 4 p.m., the website reported 52,932 wreaths had been donated, surpassing the organization’s target.
The wreaths will be placed at the veterans’ gravesites following a ceremony on December 16 at 11 a.m. Citizens may volunteer to participate in the ceremony or donate a wreath via the nonprofit’s website.
