Christmas Honors organizers seek volunteer, financial support

Editor’s note:  The following story is reposted as part of The City Wire effort to support this important regional project.

The call is out again for the Fort Smith region to come out and support “Christmas Honors” — an effort that in December 2009 placed 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, raised more than $62,000 in 2009 and gathered thousands of volunteers in the inaugural effort.

A ceremony after the wreath placement and a candlelight vigil rounded out the 2009 event cycle.

On Nov. 3, chief organizer Philip Merry Jr. issued the call for financial and volunteer support for the 2010 event. Organizers need people able to help assemble, distribute and pick-up/store the wreaths, as well as assist with food, parking directions, sign in, logistics, communications and other related activities.

They also need people and companies with trucks and trailers to help transport assembled wreaths from the Phoenix Expo Center to the Fort Smith National Cemetery on Dec. 10, 2010, and from the Fort Smith National Cemetery to the Fort Smith Convention Center on Jan. 9, 2011.

Money to support the effort also is needed to purchase additional wreaths and ribbons for the headstones. At some point, the artificial wreaths will need to be replaced.

Monetary donations are being accepted at the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce located at 612 Garrison Ave. Fort Smith, Arkansas 72901. Please make all checks/payments payable to “Christmas Honors” c/o the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce. Tax ID #: 71-0029620

“We welcome the schools and companies to participate,” noted a press release.

Following are key dates and times in the Christmas Honors effort.
• Wreath workshop

9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Dec. 10

Phoenix Expo Center (4600 Towson Ave.)

• Wreath distribution (tentative schedule; events and times may change)
8:30 a.m. to Noon (events may include a military flyover and 11 a.m. ceremony)
Dec. 11
Fort Smith National Cemetery (522 Garland Avenue and South Sixth St.)

• Wreath candlelight vigil

5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 13
Fort Smith National Cemetery

• Wreath collection/storage

9 a.m. until complete

Jan. 9, 2011

Fort Smith National Cemetery and Fort Smith Convention Center
(volunteers are to meet at the Fort Smith Convention Center for instructions)

Those wanting to volunteer should contact Sheri Neely at 650-5781, or [email protected]

See the Christmas Honors website for more information and details about the event.