Missouri Veterans Commission News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2012

Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony Honoring Veterans to be Held at Missouri's State Veterans Cemeteries

Wreaths Across America, a national wreath-laying ceremony to honor and remember our nation's Veterans will be held at all six Missouri State Veterans Cemeteries on Saturday, December 15, 2012.
In 1992, the Worcester Wreath Company began donating wreaths to be placed at the headstones in Arlington National Cemetery. Building on this tradition, the company in 2006 began donating 7 ceremonial wreaths to each state and national Veterans cemetery in the country. Today, many individuals and organizations hold campaigns to purchase additional wreaths to be placed at headstones in these cemeteries. More information can be found at their website at http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/.
"This ceremony honors Veterans, Active Duty military, and their families by not forgetting, by remembering what they did and what they stood for," said Larry D. Kay, Executive Director of the Missouri Veterans Commission, "We owe a great debt of gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives so we could live free and this is one small way to recognize that debt.”
The cemetery locations and wreath-laying ceremony times are:
Bloomfield Veterans Cemetery 17357 Stars and Stripes Way
Bloomfield, MO 63825
573-568-3871 Ceremony begins at 11:00 am
Higginsville Veterans Cemetery 20109 Business Hwy. 13
Higginsville, MO 64037
660-584-5252 Ceremony begins at 11:00 am
Fort Leonard Wood Veterans Cemetery 25350 Highway H Waynesville, MO 65583 573-774-3496 Ceremony begins at 11:00 am
Jacksonville Veterans Cemetery 1479 County Road 1675
Jacksonville, MO 65260
Phone: 660-295-4237 Ceremony begins at 11:00 am
Springfield Veterans Cemetery 5201 South Southwood
Springfield, MO 65804
Phone: 417-823-3944 Ceremony begins at 11:00 am
St. James Veterans Cemetery 620 N. Jefferson
St. James, MO 65559
Phone: 573-265-3271 Ceremony begins at 12:30 pm
The Missouri Veterans Commission operates seven State Veterans Homes, six State Veterans Cemeteries, and the Veterans Services Program.  The Commission is committed to honoring and serving Missouri's Veterans whose dedication and sacrifices have preserved our nation and its freedoms.  For more information about the Missouri Veterans Commission programs, call 573-751-3779, online at www.mvc.dps.mo.gov or on Facebook.
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For more information, call 573-522-1421 or e-mail Daniel.Bell@mvc.dps.mo.gov