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Organization provides 365 wreaths for veterans' graves

CLOVIS — This year for the first time Wreaths Across America will be coming to Clovis.

The national non-profit organization has been providing wreaths to lay on veterans’ graves since 2007, spreading from a tradition that began at Arlington National Cemetery in 1992.

According to its website, Wreaths Across America will be holding events at over 1,200 locations across the country on Saturday.

Wreaths Across America Location Coordinator Karen Alexander’s son, Staff Sgt. Devin Schuette, died last year. And while Schuette is not buried locally, Alexander thought bringing Wreaths Across America to Clovis would be a great way to honor the nearly 3,500 veterans who are buried here.

“I think it’s very important because the holidays are very difficult on families that have lost a loved one so I think this is a great way to start the remembrance process during Christmas,” Alexander said.

The event is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 1601 E Llano Estacado Blvd. There will be ceremonies in which each branch of the military is honored, Alexander said.

Volunteers will then lay wreaths on veterans’ graves at Lawn Haven before traveling to Mission Garden of Memories Cemetery, 2900 W Seventh St., to place the remaining wreaths on veterans’ graves.

“This is not just decorating graves, it is honoring veterans,” Alexander said. “We are honoring veterans by laying a wreath.”

Alexander said that when a volunteer lays a wreath, they are encouraged to say the deceased veteran’s name out loud and then later go home and research the veteran’s life and contributions to the country.

Alexander said each Wreaths Across America location throughout the country will use the same live wreaths, which are specially handmade in Maine.

“They are comprised of 10 balsam fir bouquets and then they’re all put together and each of those 10 bouquets represent the special qualities of our veterans,” Alexander said. “So they’re not just a wreath, they’re not just something that you can go out and buy, these are special handmade wreathes and they’re live and have a special meaning to them.”

Alexander has been joined by Raymond Mondragon to help organize the event in Clovis.

“They give their lives so that us as Americans can have our freedoms and we just want to appreciate them and their families and say thank you,” Mondragon said.

Alexander said American Legion Post 25 has also joined the cause and will be providing volunteers for the ceremony.

Alexander said Wreaths Across America has provided 365 wreaths for this year and Mondragon hopes the event is such a success that next year wreaths will be laid on all 3,500 local veterans’ graves.

 
 
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