560 wreaths to honor veterans

By Donnie A. Lucas

For a third consecutive year, Albany will honor its veterans at the Albany Cemetery with a Christmas wreath laying ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 17.

Volunteers and family members will gather at 11:00 a.m. at the pavilion in the cemetery for a brief ceremony, then fan out across the cemetery to distribute 560 fresh wreaths on the graves of veterans.

The program is held as part of the National Wreaths Across America Day, with Henry and Melinda Musselman donating the wreaths.

“This is our family’s gift to the community,” Melinda said. “Saundra Nobles is our source for locating all the graves, and about 50 were added this year. She has also organized all the volunteers and coordinated with family members who wish to be involved in placing the wreaths for their relatives.”

The program will including the playing of Taps by local veteran Daniel Key, with another veteran, Matthew Sanchez, who moved to Albany last summer, giving a short presentation.

Musselman said she is anticipating dry but possibly colder weather this year.

Nobles once again divided the cemetery into blocks and has assigned volunteers to lay specific graves.

“That is the system we used last year, and it worked well,” Nobles said. “We have enough volunteers to place the wreaths, which we are thankful for.”

While there are enough volunteers to distribute the wreaths, family members who want to lay the wreaths for relatives can call Nobles ahead of time to set that up. Nobles can be reached at 325-280-7725.

The public is invited to attend the brief ceremony.