Annual wreath laying at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery set for Saturday

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

Every year, volunteers place thousands of wreaths on soldiers’ graves at the Central Texas State

This Saturday, November 30, will be the annual Wreath Laying at 10 a.m. at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery located at 11463 S. Hwy 195 in Killeen.

Prior to that, volunteers will be needed to help unload the thousands of wreaths. After the ceremony, family members will lay wreaths on their loved one’s graves, and then the volunteers will disperse the remaining wreaths until all are done.

The unloading of the wreaths will begin at 8:30 a.m. Bikers who wish to escort the wreaths to the cemetery should meet at the Killeen Special Events Center at 7 a.m.

There is limited parking at the cemetery, so it is strongly recommended to take one of the shuttle buses from the Texas A&M Central Texas campus. Volunteers should meet in the TAMUCT parking lot located on South Clear Creek Road/Loop 201. Shuttle bus service starts at 8 a.m. with buses running every 15 minutes. 

Copperas Cove will be represented by a contingent of community volunteers, in past years which has included City of Copperas Cove staff, Copperas Cove ISD students, local clubs and organizations, as well as local families and individuals. 

Those attending who wish to find a particular grave can use the online nationwide gravesite locator by going to https://www.cem.va.gov/nationwide-gravesite-locator, then following the drop-down menu to select the cemetery and enter the individual’s information. 

The wreaths will remain on the graves through Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, when volunteers will return to the cemetery and collect the wreaths.