Veterans honored during annual wreath ceremony
More than 100 volunteers of all ages came together Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Albany Cemetery to honor local veterans during the sixth annual National Wreaths Across America Day, placing wreaths on 610 graves and identifying four additional veteran graves during the event.
One of those graves is now the oldest veteran, pre-dating the two Civil War veterans that were previously identified. Greenham Crowder, who died around the time of the Civil War, fought in the Texas Militia and served as a Texas Ranger.
Diana Nail, co-organizer of the program, said Saturday’s turnout was impressive.
“There were at least 100 people participating, and many were families with children,” she said. “Volunteers ranged from elementary students to older residents. I am so pleased with how it went.”
Nail also noted the contributions of volunteers like Sara Wilson, Lynda Heatly, and Kenny Lowe.
“Lynda and Sara help Ann and me in so many ways, but Kenny started pitching in last year when the wreaths were delivered, and now he is a real help to the core committee,” Nail said.
Ann Harwood, also a co-organizer, described the process. “Between volunteers and the Musselman crew, we got the wreaths unloaded last week at the cemetery pavilion and then Sara made sure the correct number of wreaths were taken to each sector. Everything went smoothly on Saturday, and the program wrapped up around 11:30 a.m.,” Harwood said.
Sponsor Melinda Musselman praised the growing community participation.
“We had beautiful weather and the largest crowd so far, with ages ranging from 5 to 95,” Musselman said. “It is amazing that during that same hour across the country, over 3 million wreaths were being placed.”
The ceremony featured a remembrance by County Attorney Rollin Rauschl for his friend Whitby George, a West Point graduate who had planned to speak before his passing a few months ago.
Saturday would have been George’s 89th birthday, Harwood said. She also said that a grandson came from California to lay the wreath on George’s grave.
Brad McBee led the prayer for the program, and veteran Dan Key played Taps.
Volunteers received folders listing gravesites by section to streamline placement. Wreaths were stacked along the east-west streets of the cemetery for quick dispersal. Several families personally placed wreaths on the graves of loved ones.
The Albany program was started locally by Henry and Melinda Musselman, after Melinda saw wreaths placed in the state capitol cemetery where her father is buried. Since then, the Musselmans have provided all the wreaths as a gift to the community.
Saundra Nobles played a very significant role in the project’s early years by developing the cemetery map and grid system used by volunteers. She continues to be involved by mapping new finds, but handed off the organization of the project to Nail, Harwood, and Wilson last year.
Nail said the success of the event depends on volunteers who help organize graves and manage logistics.
“Seeing the volunteer base grow guarantees the future of the program,” she said.
Wreaths will remain in place for two to three more weeks before collection. The Musselman Ranch crew, who helped when the wreaths arrived, picked up and disposed of the empty boxes, will also collect the wreaths at the end of the holiday season.
National Wreaths Across America Day is observed in cemeteries across the country to honor veterans who served in the U.S. armed forces. The program has been operating for more than 30 years and places millions of wreaths each year, including approximately 150,000 at Arlington National Cemetery. The Albany program is part of this nationwide effort to remember, honor, and teach the importance of veterans’ service.
Musselman thanked everyone who had a part in the project.
