Volunteers needed to help with wreaths
By Donnie A. Lucas
Volunteers are still needed to help place 560 fresh evergreen wreaths on the graves of local veterans as part of National Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, Dec. 17.
A brief ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Albany Cemetery pavilion prior to votunteers spreading out across the Albany Cemetery to place the wreaths in honor and commemoration of those who served in one of the branches of the Armed Forces.
Two years ago about 490 wreaths were placed, followed by about 515 last year.
“We have 560 veteran graves identified this year,” organizer Saundra Nobles said. “We have added several new ones this year.”
Nobles divided the cemetery into 18 sections last year to better organize locating the graves by volunteers. Anyone interested in helping can volunteer by contacting Nobles at 325-280-7725.
“We still need helper with the distribution and the collecting of the wreaths after Christmas,” she said. “We had a few older volunteers drop out this time, so we are looking for some younger ones to replace them.”
Family members who would like to personally place a wreath on the grave of a loved one can also contact Nobles to make that arrangement.
“We have had some people who want to lay the wreaths for their family members, but who aren’t able to necessarily distribute them to other graves,” Nobles said. “We can make special arrangements for those markers if family members will contact me ahead of time.”
The project was first spearheaded locally by Henry and Melinda Musselman, who are assisting Nobles and also covering the cost of the wreaths.
“This is our family’s gift to the community,” Melinda Musselman said. “Saundra is organizing the volunteers and locating the gravesites.”
