Wreaths Across America volunteers in Uvalde, Texas flocked to Hillcrest Cemetery to honor the veterans interred there on WAA Day in 2021.
This year, WAA volunteers are supporting Uvalde.
“Last year, we were able to get all graves covered (at Hillcrest Cemetery),” said Melissa Federspill of the Uvalde Leader News.
On May 24, a mass shooting by a lone 18-year-old gunman at Robb Elementary School left 19 students and two teachers dead and 17 others wounded and the community reeling.
“This year, with the school shooting, there was too much going on to try to push for Wreaths Across America,” explained Federspill.
That is until another WAA volunteer group from Alton National Cemetery in Illinois stepped in to honor not only Ulvade’s interred veterans but the entire community.
Related
“When meeting with our Alton Wreaths Across America committee, I mentioned the opportunity to assist Uvalde, Texas,” said Margaret Hopkins, a WAA volunteer for Alton National Cemetery. “Our members were so honored to do so. We voted to use 600 wreaths from our `bank’ to send to that site. We are elated to help this community.”
When Federspill learned of the donation, she connected with a local 4H Club including teen leaders Koben Sanchez and Hope Smith. They will be placing the donated wreaths for the veterans of Uvalde on Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 17.
Related
WAA began more than 30 years ago as a pilgrimage by a Maine wreath maker in a single truck to deliver 5,000 wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery as a gesture of thanks. Today, National Wreaths Across America Day ceremonies are happening at more than 3,500 participating locations across the country. The events are free and open to all.
For more information about sponsoring a wreath, visit here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectigvets.com.