Volunteers swamp wreath project; Boozman to attend Saturday event

Volunteers showed up in greater numbers than expected to help prepare the 12,000 wreaths that will on Saturday (Dec. 12) be placed at all the headstones at the Fort Smith National Cemetery.

“2,000 (wreaths completed) in an hour and a half. More volunteers than we have space for. AMAZING,” was the message Lea Taylor texted to The City Wire.

“Christmas Honors” is an effort to place a wreath at the roughly 12,000 headstones in the Fort Smith National Cemetery. The Education & Quality of Place division of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, which is leading the effort, seeks to raise at least $60,000 to cover the upfront costs of buying the wreaths. As of Friday (Dec. 11), almost $54,000 had been raised.

Between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., on Dec. 12, families of service members will place a wreath on their family member’s gravesite. Friends and volunteers are welcome from 9:30 a.m. until the final wreath is placed. At 11 a.m. a short ceremony is planned to honor the various branches of the military. In addition, there will be a candlelight vigil at 5:30 p.m., Dec. 14 for friends, family and the community.

The hundreds of volunteers who came Saturday morning to prepare the wreaths — each of the 12,000 wreaths had to be “fluffed up,” and a red ribbon attached — included area high school and college students, senior citizens groups and members of the military.

U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, announced Friday morning he will attend Saturday’s wreath-laying event. He is expected to be at the cemetery by 8:30 a.m. to lay a wreath on the grave of family members, and will travel to Fayetteville for an 11 a.m. ceremony at the Fayetteville National Cemetery,

“During the rush of the Christmas season the sacrifice of our fallen veterans unfortunately gets overlooked. This is a great opportunity to show our commitment for the men and women who have proudly served our nation. I am proud to join with Americans across the country to express our undying gratitude for those who have worn our nation’s uniform,” Boozman said in a statement.

For more information or to participate in this effort, please contact:
General Information: Philip Merry, 926-0939
Donation Information: Whitney Yoder, 783-3111
Volunteer Information: Sheri Neely, 650-5781

Also, donations to the Christmas Honors project can be made at any branch of Arvest Bank or First National Bank of Fort Smith.