Wreaths for Vets conducts 16th annual wreath-laying ceremony to pay tribute

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Angela Holtby | U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Sean Bernabe, the III Armored Corps commanding general, Fort Hood, Texas, and Sgt. Maj. Rocio Picazarri, 1st Medical Brigade operations sergeant major, presents the first wreath and renders the first salute to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country at the Fallen Heroes Monument at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, Killeen, Texas, Nov. 26, 2022. The Fallen Heroes Memorial honors the men and women who gave their lives in war and those who remain missing. The helmet and identification tags signify the fallen soldier, their name never to be forgotten. The inverted rifle with bayonet signals a time for prayer, a break in the action to pay tribute to our friend. The combat boots, worn and dirty, represents the final march of the soldier’s last battle. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Angela Holtby)  

KILLEEN, TEXAS, UNITED STATES

11.26.2022

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Angela Holtby 

III Armored Corps

On Nov. 26th, the Fort Hood and III Armored Corps command team, Lt. Gen. Sean Bernabe, commanding general, Command Sgt. Maj. Cliff Burgoyne, III Armored Corps command sergeant major, and Col. Chad Foster, Fort Hood garrison commander joined numerous volunteers at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery to pay tribute and honor fallen veterans and their family members by laying over 13,000 wreaths.

“As we lay these wreaths today, let us take a moment to honor, respect, and cherish the memory of all the veterans and their families and honor their legacy,” Bernabe said. “Let us vow to always remember, always appreciate and to never forget.”

During Bernabe’s remarks, he thanked Jean Shine and the entire Shine family, Friends of Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, and the hundreds of volunteers that came together to make this event happen.

The Fort Hood and III Armored Corps command team placed the first wreath at the base of the fallen soldier monument in the cemetery. Those with loved ones buried at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery placed their wreaths while volunteers placed a wreath at the other graves.

“The laying of the wreaths at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery started in 2006, and this year marks the 16th annual tribute with 13,000 wreaths,” said Hilary Shine, community liaison for Wreaths for Vets. “There is an outpouring of support and commitment from the community that we promised to honor our veterans by laying wreaths on every grave each year.”

The Friends of the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, which organizes the Wreaths for Vets program every year, works with hundreds of volunteers to prepare, and lay wreaths annually as part of a nationwide effort to remember the fallen by placing a wreath on each veteran’s grave for the holidays. Wreaths are laid on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend and retrieved on the first Sunday in January.

“I have participated in the Wreaths for Vets since 2006, and this event allows me to pay homage to servicemembers I grew up with and served with,” said Willie Keller, commander of VFW Post 12209 CSM A. C. Cotton.

In December 2008, the United States Senate agreed to a resolution that designated December 13, as Wreaths Across America Day. The Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery is one of 3,400 locations across the United States, to take part in Wreaths Across America.

Wreath retrieval for the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery will be on January 14, 2023 @ 10 AM.

• Date Taken: 11.26.2022
• Date Posted: 11.29.2022 15:33
• Story ID: 434077
• Location: KILLEEN, TEXAS, US