Girl Scout Troop #130337 of Port Neches joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post #4820 and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) on Wreaths Across America Day to lay over 100 wreaths on veteran graves in Oak Bluff Cemetery.
Located at 618 Block St. in Port Neches, Oak Bluff Cemetery is the resting place for over 500 U.S. veterans. Wreaths Across America Day is held each December with the mission to remember the fallen, to honor those who have and are serving in the military, and to teach young people the value of freedom. The Girl Scouts’ efforts added to the 3,400 wreath-laying ceremonies held over the weekend in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad.
Girl Scout Troop #130337 is a unit of the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, which serves 26 counties in Southeast Texas. The council recently celebrated its 100th anniversary and supports 35,000 girl members and over 14,000 adult members.
Wreaths Across America was founded in 1992 by Maine entrepreneur Morrill Worcester, the owner of the Worcester Wreath Co. in Harrington, Maine. With the aid of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, arrangements were made for wreaths to be placed at Arlington in one of the older sections of the cemetery that had been receiving fewer visitors with each passing year.
In 2008, over 300 locations held wreath-laying ceremonies in every state, Puerto Rico and 24 overseas cemeteries. Over 100,000 wreaths were placed on veterans’ graves. Over 60,000 volunteers participated.
By 2014, Wreaths Across America and its national network of volunteers laid over 700,000 memorial wreaths at 1,000 locations in the United States and beyond, including ceremonies at the Pearl Harbor Memorial, as well as Bunker Hill, Valley Forge and the sites of the Sept. 11 tragedies. This was accomplished with help from 2,047 sponsorship groups, corporate contributions, and donations of trucking, shipping, and thousands of helping hands. The organization’s goal of covering Arlington National Cemetery was met in 2014 with the placement of 226,525 wreaths.
“From the Revolutionary War to present day conflicts, our veterans are devoted sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers. They come from all backgrounds in life to place those lives on the line for our freedoms,” the Wreaths Across America group promotes. “In many homes, there is an empty seat for one who is serving or one who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. There is no better time to express our appreciation than during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
“We will never forget.”