Civilizations around the world have been celebrating the start of each new year for at least four millennia. Today, most New Year’s festivities begin on December 31 (New Year’s Eve), the last day of the and continue into the early hours of January 1 (New Year’s Day). Common traditions include attending parties, eating special New Year’s foods, making resolutions for the new year, and watching fireworks displays.
Despite cold and a persistent wind, thousands of volunteers lined up at DFW National Cemetery to place wreaths on National Wreaths Across America Day. Photo by Ed Reed.
American Legion Post 178, for the eighth consecutive year, participated in the 2021 National Wreaths Across America Day activities at the DFW National Cemetery. Veterans volunteered to assist with unloading of approximately 8,000 boxes of wreaths on December 17 and the placement of more than 48,000 wreaths on December 18. Although the temperature hovered around 50 degrees and a strong north wind persisted, a substantial number of volunteers attended the event. Post members will also assist with the removal of wreaths on January 15, 2022.
National Wreaths Across America Day is the culmination of a yearlong mission to Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve and Teach the next generation the value of freedom. This mission is in part conducted each December with the placement of sponsored veterans’ wreaths on the headstones of those who have served our country. By coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 3,100 participating locations around the country, Wreaths Across America strives to remember our fallen heroes. The day honors those who served. And it teaches our children about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families to preserve our freedoms. Remember. Honor. Teach.
Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, the mission to Remember the Fallen, Honor those who Serve, and Teach our children the value of Freedom, is conducted by coordinating Remembrance wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 2,100 locations , including the DFW National Cemetery, in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad.
Today, a Wreaths Across America ceremony will be held at DFW National Cemetery to Remember and Honor our veterans through the laying of Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country’s fallen heroes.
REMEMBER our veterans that served and are serving America, HONOR the fallen veterans, and TEACH our youth about the service and sacrifice of our veterans and families.
The Military Veterans Peer Network is hosting an annual Christmas Celebration, Breakfast with Santa. FREE for service members, veterans, and MVPN volunteers.
Saturday, December 18, 2021
9 A.M. – 11 A.M. CST
Cross Timbers Church
1119 U. S. 377
Argyle, TX 76226
Dress up in your pajamas and get your picture taken with Santa! Breakfast, Door Prizes, and Fun and Games! Gifts for children will be provided, as well as Christmas dinners for those families in need.
RSVP is required for food/drink planning.
Email Kasey@DentonCountyMVPN.com to RSVP and for questions.
The Military Veteran Peer Network is a band of volunteers that work together to help any veteran in need. They offer mutual support and friendship while doing fun activities. Each MVPN hub offers multiple peer support sessions for different eras or military experiences, and mentoring support to veterans in the Veteran Treatment Courts. For more information go to www.milvetpeer.net.
Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, the mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is conducted by coordinating remembrance wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 2,100 locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad.
The American Legion Post 178 will again actively participate in this year’s Wreaths Across America Ceremony and assist with the placement of 48,000 wreaths at the DFW National Cemetery on December 18. In addition to this event, post members will assist with wreath truck unloading on December 17 and wreath removal on January 15, 2022. Post 178 has participated in the national program since it was chartered in 2014.
In many homes, there is an empty seat for one who is serving or one who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Our service members sacrifice their time and safety every day of the year to preserve our freedoms.
REMEMBER our veterans that served and are serving America, HONOR the fallen veterans, and TEACH our youth about the service and sacrifice of our veterans and families.
Bonham Veterans Home Donations Chair John Allen and Caren Cohen, Quilting Angels member, hold two unique fidget quilts.
Residents at Bonham Veterans Home are incredibly grateful for a group of sixty Quilting Angels from Frisco Lakes. These Angels donate quilts and fidget quilts yearly to the home.
Many in the group are spouses of veterans or veterans themselves who appreciate those who have served our great country. Quilting and sewing things for veterans and others is their way of thanking those who have sacrificed to keep it safe. This year, twenty quilts and sixteen fidget quilts were donated to Bonham veterans.
Since 2017, the Quilting Angels have donated 208 quilts and 68 fidget quilts to the veterans, Fidget quilts are sensory mats held in laps that have numerous items sewn on top that give veterans with Alzheimer’s or dementia in the memory care unit a sense of calmness when agitated. When the pandemic hit in 2020, the Angels also began sewing masks. To date, more than 8,500 masks have been donated to veterans, hospitals, medical and cancer centers, and to police and fire first responders.
The group of day quilters is led by Lori Kestila, while Maureen Schmiedel leads the smaller group of fidget quilters. To learn more, visit https://facebook.com/quiltingangels.fidgetquilts or contact Maureen at fidgetquilt@gmail.com.
The Lord bestows blessings on those who help the needy, and these Quilting Angels deserve many.