Past Events

With the support of the community, small businesses, corporations and our fundraising groups, Wreaths Across America – Houston set the bar even higher by laying over 26,200 wreaths in 2010.  The cemetery was truly beautiful and a fitting tribute to our fallen heroes.

Thank You,  Houston!

THOUSANDS ATTEND WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA EVENT IN HOUSTON
bv Allison Triarsi / KHOU 11 TV 11 News
HOUSTON – More than 15,000 people gathered to salute the country’s men and women in the military during Saturday’s 3rd Annual Wreaths Across America event, a ceremony that honors veterans by placing wreaths on the graves of fallen troops. 

One after another, veterans of World War II and the Korean War placed the first wreaths of the ceremony, held at the Houston National Cemetery, in honor of the seven branches of America’s Armed Forces.

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VeteransSeveral heroes were on hand among the crowd, such as Korean War veteran Hank Daumann, who says he comes every year. “We just feel it’s appropriate to be here and lay these wreaths on our brothers,” said Daumann, who’s apart of the Lone Star Chapter of Korean War Veterans. And while years have passed since the Korean War, Buddy Blair says he still feels the pain. “It still hurts to remember the ones that didn’t come back,” said Blair. 

Only in its third year, the event already draws thousand annually. Event organizer Scott deMasi said the idea originated when his son Alex visited Arlington National Cemetery and wondered why Houston veterans did not have wreaths on their graves.
“When Alex asked me the question, it was just a matter of let’s get a little education, let’s lay some ‘wreaths,” said deMasi. We didn’t know it was going to blossom into this.

deMasi organized what is now considered the largest wreath laying ceremony in the country, as volunteers placed more than 26,000 wreaths on grave sites during Saturday’s event.

Copyright@WAA-Houston 2011