Wreaths Across America honors Grimes County fallen veterans

It was a picture-perfect day for the nearly 50 volunteers participating in Grimes County’s third annual Wreaths Across America (WAA) ceremony Saturday, Dec. 15. Those assembled at Navasota’s Oakland Cemetery were a part of a nationwide effort of more than 2 million volunteers and supporters who gathered “to Remember, Honor and Teach.” WAADay ceremonies were held at more than 4,000 participating locations in all 50 states, at sea and abroad.

Those who paid their respects to the veterans of all wars at rest in Oakland included veterans’ families, members of the American Legion McClusky Post 640, Benevolent Order of Protective Elks Lodge, Navasota BSA Troop 361, Grimes County VFW Post 4006 and Lions Club International.

Representatives from the Grimes County Historical Commission, Robert Raines Chapter of the National Society-Daughters of the American Revolution, Children of the American Revolution and Two Rivers Heritage Foundation were also present along with elected officials and staff from both the City of Navasota and Grimes County.

Remembering the fallen

The ceremony included comments from Navasota Mayor Bert Miller who later laid a wreath on the grave of his grandfather William Albert Miller, Sr., as well as American Legion McClusky Post 640 Commander Steve Storey, Grimes County VFW Post 4006 Commander Kenneth Shores and Grimes County’s WAA coordinator Kathy Wells.

Before dispersing to place wreaths on the veterans’ graves, an adult and youth honored each branch of the service with a wreath. Storey placed the wreath in honor of the POW/MIAs (prisoner of war/missing in action) and reminded the audience that those veterans do not have a place to put a wreath.

Speaking with the Examiner, Wells said, “I’d like to thank everybody who participated and everybody who sponsored a wreath. The weather was really nice, and we were done in less than an hour and a half.”

She also expressed her thanks to Shores, Storey, Pat Newman and the Elks Lodge for assisting with unloading the wreaths upon delivery and transporting the wreaths from the post to Oakland.

Wells added, “I want to thank Alice Sargent for letting us use wreath stands.”

Wells said, “While our designated location is at Oakland, we do allow wreaths to go to other cemeteries. For instance, Salem Lutheran Church in Whitehall sponsored enough wreaths for all the veterans buried in their cemetery. They picked up 38 wreaths and had their own ceremony there, too.”

Two-for-one special

Wells and local veterans groups are already looking ahead to the 2024 ceremony scheduled for Dec. 14 and sponsors can get a jump on ordering wreaths now.

Wells said, “Between now and Jan. 16, you can sponsor one wreath and get a second wreath delivered for free. That’s a two-for-one special going on before Jan. 16. Those wreaths will be delivered for the 2024 Wreaths AcrossAmerica Day.”

Wreaths are $17 and may be sponsored singly or in multiples, and generically or for a specific grave or cemetery, through the local Robert Raines Chapter of the NSDAR at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/TX0978P, or through the Pocahontas Society Children of the American Revolution at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/TX0979P.

The Grimes County Historical Commission is another group promoting wreath sponsorships at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/TX0998.

For more information, email Grimes County coordinator Kathy Cave Wells at www.wreathsacrossamericagrimescotx@gmail.com.