Governor Abbott to Speak at Cemetery for Wreaths Across America on Saturday (12/17/2016)

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA INVITES AUSTIN COMMUNITY TO HONOR TEXAS VETERANS AT TEXAS STATE CEMETERY

Local community members invited to memorial wreath laying ceremony on December 17

Austin, Texas – December 14, 2016: As part of their 25th Anniversary, Wreaths Across America (WAA) invites the Austin community to join them in honoring Texas veterans and other prominent Texans as they place wreaths on graves at the Texas State Cemetery. The cemetery is a beautiful place of honor for dignitaries such as Stephen F. Austin (“Father of Texas”), Bob Bullock, CPO Chris Kyle (“American Sniper”), Jake Pickle, Darrell K. Royal and Barbara Jordan, to name a few.
On Saturday, December 17, 2016 at 11 a.m., Texas Governor Greg Abbott will be joined by local dignitaries and other members of the community to place wreaths on each of the graves at the Texas State Cemetery as part of the annual National Wreaths Across America Day. This placement ceremony will be coordinated simultaneously at more than 1,200 participating locations across the world.

During the ceremony, there will be a special focus on the placement of seven ceremonial wreaths by prominent military leaders, each one honoring a branch of the United States Military and those who were POW/MIA.

Founded in 1992 by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester, WAA became a national 501c-3 non-profit organization in 2007 to continue and expand their efforts of placing wreaths on veteran graves. WAA’s patriotic mission is to REMEMBER the fallen, HONOR those who serve and their families and TEACH our children the value of freedom. The government does not provide the wreaths for veteran graves. 

In 2015, thanks to more than 600,000 volunteers placing wreaths, sponsoring wreaths, or both, in excess of 901,000 WAA wreaths were placed at 1,100 participating locations including 100 percent of the graves at Arlington National Cemetery (240,185).

Wreaths Across America-Austin appreciates the amazing fundraising efforts of the Regents School of Austin’s Boy Scout Troop #25, DAR Austin Colony, “angel sponsor” Worcester Wreath and others. They are also thankful for the support of the Texas State Cemetery team, the Texas Funeral Directors Association and Texas Disposal Systems (TDS). TDS is donating their pickup, recycling and composting services, for an environmentally-conscious event.

“We’re called on today and every day to remember our fallen heroes,” said Governor Abbott. “We must remember their names, we must remember their lives and we must remember their sacrifice, because we are each entrusted with their legacy of faith in this great nation. I am honored to be a part of the inaugural event at our state’s cemetery, and I encourage all Texans to participate in their local Wreaths Across America ceremony this weekend.” 

For more information about National Wreaths Across America Day, please visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA-AUSTIN

To schedule an interview about WAA, you may contact either volunteer co-coordinator via email at: waa25austin@gmail.com or phone: Charlotte Waldrum-972.740.5863 or Ellen Fuller-757.478.4747.        

TEXAS STATE CEMETERY – AUSTIN

For more information (hours, directions and tours) about the Cemetery located at 909 Navasota St-Austin 78702, please call 512.463.0605 or visit www.cemetery.texas.gov

TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS

Learn more about how TDS helps communities, organizations and schools manage and divert waste to beneficial uses at www.TexasDisposal.com.