Local veterans’ graves sought
By Kathy Thomson
Each December, the organization Wreaths Across America coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery and at veterans graves at more than 1,600 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea, and abroad.
Part-time Albany resident Melinda Musselman would like help in bringing this display of respect and honor to the local cemetery.
Musselman, who divides her time between the family’s home in Midland and their ranches in Shackelford County, is hoping to have the ceremony organized by next November, but she needs assistance from others in order to achieve her goal.
“My father is buried at the state cemetery in Austin, and every year Wreaths Across America puts wreaths on all of their graves,” said Musselman. “Henry and I thought it would be nice to do that in Albany. We would be willing to purchase the wreaths, but I need to have a list of the veterans who are buried in the Albany cemetery.”
Musselman intended to lay wreaths this year but was unable to get the information in time.
“When I started out, I thought it would be easy,” she said. “But I’ve found out that there wasn’t even a list of how many veterans are buried there, or where their graves are located.”
Local resident Saundra Nobles, who has worked for several years to record the location of most of the marked graves in Shackelford County, is working with Musselman on the project.
“I’ve compared names engraved on the veterans monument at the Courthouse and names of World War I veterans gathered by Mary Kay O’Connor with my list of graves at the Albany cemetery,” said Nobles. “Every nice day, we are walking one section of the cemetery and looking for any additional veterans. We’ve already come up with almost 300 veterans’ graves.”
In addition to information about the location of veterans’ graves at the local cemetery, Musselman said she would also need local volunteers who would be willing to put the wreaths on the graves.
“Colonel Dyess is buried there and a lot of others who have fought in wars,” Musselman said. “I think it would be a nice community project for the Boy Scouts, the Daughters of the American Revolution, National Honor Society members, other groups, or individuals to undertake.”
The Musselmans would be willing to purchase wreaths for other Shackelford County veterans’ graves as well, but would need to have volunteers to place the wreaths at those cemeteries.
To contact Nobles with information about veterans buried in Shackelford County, or to volunteer to assist with the project, call her at 325-280-7725.
