Missouri Veterans Commission News Release

The Higginsville State Veterans Cemetery will host a Blue Star Memorial dedication ceremony at 10 a.m. followed by a columbarium wall dedication ceremony in conjunction with their annual Wreaths Across America event starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 15, at the Higginsville State Veterans Cemetery, located at 20109 Business Highway 13, Higginsville. Over 1,100 wreaths will be placed on headstones and in front of the columbarium walls as part of the ceremony.

“We are very excited to be hosting the wall dedication and Blue Star Memorial dedication in addition to Wreaths Across America this year,” said Carita Trent, Higginsville Cemetery director. “Wreaths Across America brings out so many families and volunteers each year. It is a very touching tribute to our Veterans.”

The columbarium wall dedication ceremony marks a $2.1 Million expansion project which adds 1,280 niches for future Veteran interment ceremonies. In addition to the columbarium wall, this project provided the cemetery with additional storage and road improvements. GLMV Architects, of Kansas City, Mo., provided the design and Martin General Contractors, of Eolia, Mo., were the general contractors. The project was completed in November 2018.

The Blue Star Memorial Program honors all men and women that serve in the United States Armed Services. This program began with the planting of 8,000 Dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs in 1944 as a living memorial to veterans of World War II. In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted this program and began a Blue Star Highway system that covers thousands of miles across the Continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. The Higginsville Cemetery will be the latest addition to the Blue Star Memorial Program.

Wreaths Across America is a holiday wreath-laying ceremony to honor and remember our nation’s Veterans. The annual event started in 1992 when the Worcester Wreath Company began donating wreaths to be placed at the headstones in Arlington National Cemetery. Building on this tradition, in 2006 the company began donating seven 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 the website http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/.

The Missouri Veterans Commission, a state agency, operates seven State Veterans Homes, five 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 facebook.com/MissouriVeteransCommission, or download the MVC App at the iTunes Store or for Android devices.

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For more information, call 573-522-1421 or e-mail Daniel.Bell@mvc.dps.mo.gov