Honoring Local Veterans

By Donnie A. Lucas

For the second year, Albany will honor its veterans at the Albany Cemetery with a Christmas wreath laying ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 18.

Volunteers and family members will gather at 11:00 a.m. at the pavilion at the cemetery for a brief ceremony, then fan out across the cemetery to distribute 525 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 was our source for locating all the graves last year, and she continued this year as well. 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 include the playing of Taps by local veteran Daniel Key, with pastor Sonny McCauley, now of Breckenridge, giving a short presentation. McCauley is also a veteran.

Musselman said she and Nobles are “watching the weather” reports for Saturday.

“They have taken the chance of rain out of the forecast as of Monday,” she said. “It will be colder by then, but if we can, we will continue with the plan.”

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

“Thelist is in the order the graves are located within each section, which should be easier than last year,” Nobles said.

There are already enough volunteers to distribute the wreaths, but family members who want to lay the wreaths for their relatives must call Nobles ahead of time at 325-280-7725 to set that up. 

She is also seeking volunteers to pick up the wreaths in January.

 This year, 525 wreaths were ordered for the Albany Cemetery, compared to 491 last year.

“We really appreciate all the hard work Saundra has given to this project,” Melinda Musselman said. “She has spent hours arranging and organizing.”

The wreaths were delivered to Albany on Tuesday.