It wasn’t until we placed the last wreath on one of our beloved veterans’ graves that I realized what a whirlwind the days (and weeks) leading up to that moment had been. So many people had come together to help make our wreath-laying ceremony special. Months before, we had set a goal that we needed 112 wreaths to cover the veterans’ graves at the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery. We’d partnered with Lisa Conoly, who is president of the Kinney County Cemetery, and under her direction, we formed a group which included four other cemeteries located in Kinney County. Joining together to make this a county-wide effort was truly the only way to make this successful.
After setting up a Facebook page, the first community advertisement went out during our annual Hunters Roundup, where Lisa Conoly and Augusta Pines (SISCA president) set up a table and informed anyone who stopped by about Wreaths Across America. After that first event, we received $400 in donations and stirred up a lot of interest.
The leadup to the November 28th deadline is a blur. There was always the question of whether or not we would reach our goal. Thanks to additional wreaths from the other cemeteries and Congressman Tony Gonzales, we did!
On December 13, we gathered at the Kinney County Courthouse at 11 AM. The ceremony that Lisa Conoly orchestrated was filled with gratitude and reverence for our veterans. Throughout the ceremony, music was played by our community band. And several local veterans presented colors. A highlight of the ceremony was the presence of an active duty serviceman named Airman Ivey, who had traveled from Laughlin Air Force Base at the last minute.
Following the ceremony at the courthouse, we all went to our respective cemeteries. We had a great turnout at the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery, where everyone helped place a wreath on the 112 veterans’ graves. It took about an hour to place each wreath. And the silence of the day was broken only by the voices of people honoring our veterans by saying their names out loud or thanking them for their service. Once the last wreath was placed, the cemetery looked especially beautiful and festive blanketed in these red and green symbols of the season and of our gratitude.
Following the wreath laying, everyone gathered at the Carver School for a meal that was donated by members of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association and Ziggy’s Roadside BBQ. The meal consisted of brisket, rice, beans, and potato salad, along with water and tea. And several people donated cookies.
As we all sat and ate, we all discussed how beautiful and cathartic the wreath laying at each cemetery had been. And to a person, everyone said that they couldn’t wait to do it again next year.
