Volunteers needed for Wreath Project Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 21 2009 02:35 AM From staff reports

Friends of the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery needs volunteers this morning for its annual Holiday Wreath Project.

"What the Friends of Central Texas Veterans Cemetery wants to do is place a wreath on each grave site every year for forever," Friends president Jean Shine said Wednesday. "We want to make sure that we never forget them."

The construction of new wreaths and the refreshing of old wreaths will take place at 9 a.m. today at the First United Methodist Church in Killeen.

The first year, the group placed 400 wreaths on veterans' graves. They stayed there from the first Saturday after Thanksgiving to the first Sunday in January, Shine said. This year the group plans to place 2,100 wreaths.

"We want volunteers," Friends of the Central Texas Veterans treasurer Cyd West said earlier this week. "There will be room for as many people (who) turn up. It is a neat teamwork kind of event, and really starts off the holiday season. I think we had 250 volunteers last year, and I think we will have 350 volunteers this year."

People wanting to help who can't make today's event, can volunteer at 10 a.m.

Nov. 28 to help place the wreaths on grave sites at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery off State Highway 195 in Killeen.

The group is also collecting donations to help with the purchase of wreaths for next year, since the number of wreaths needed keeps increasing.

"We are continually collecting donations for our wreaths," Shine said. "We try to conserve as much as we can, because we know there is a lot to take care of out there."

To donate, go to Wreathsforvets.org, or mail a check to AUSA/wreaths, 100 W. Central Texas Expressway, No. 102, Harker Heights, TX 76548-2080.