Copperas Cove volunteers sought to help with wreath placement at veterans’ cemetery

By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press 

An annual tradition in the Fort Hood area—the annual wreath laying at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery – will take place on Saturday, Nov. 27 starting at 10 a.m.
Copperas Cove will have a contingent of volunteers from the City, CCISD, and various clubs and organizations. 
Dianne Campbell, Copperas Cove city councilwoman, has led the group for the past five years, although she will not be there on Saturday. Instead, Campbell said that Police Chief Eddie Wilson will be overseeing the volunteers this weekend. 
Copperas Cove will be placing wreaths on the largest segment of the graves on Saturday, so more volunteers are always welcome, Campbell said. 
This year, Copperas Cove will be laying approximately 2,700 wreaths in Section 2, she said. 
“If you’d like to help offload the trucks, they are due to arrive at 8:30 a.m., right across from the information center. Otherwise, you are welcome to arrive after the ceremony is over at 10 a.m. if you would like to place wreaths,” Campbell said. “We need all the Covites available to please come and help.”
Campbell looks at the wreath laying having two purposes, honoring those who have served and teaching the next generation.
“I think it represents first and foremost, honoring those who have served our nation honorably. I think it is also teaching our children to honor those who are responsible for the freedoms we enjoy as American citizens, and having that sense of continuity. We need to teach our children to be appreciative and grateful for the freedoms they enjoy today, from those who have come before them.” Campbell added that the tradition began with the vision that Jean Shine had for every servicemember to be honored and remembered during the holidays. 
Volunteers should meet at the Texas A&M Central Texas parking lot located off South Clear Creek Road/Loop 201, and take a shuttle bus to the cemetery, located at 11463 State Highway 195.
Shuttle bus service to and from the cemetery begins at 8 a.m. with buses running every 15 minutes. 
There is limited parking at the veterans cemetery itself compared to the number of volunteers along with making room for the trucks which carry thousands of wreaths that will be placed on graves.
A brief ceremony will be held at 10 a.m., with Major General Steve Gilland, Deputy Commanding General, III Corps Fort Hood, serving as guest speaker. 
Then at 10:15, wreaths will be laid by Gold Star survivors and immediate family members of those buried or interred at the cemetery, after which volunteers will head out to place wreaths on each grave. 
Those looking for a particular individual’s grave should use the online nationwide gravesite locator, as the kiosk located at the cemetery is not currently working, according to the website. 
Go to va.gov, then type in grave locator and select Nationwide Gravesite Locator and enter the individual’s information. 
Wreaths will remain on the graves through Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, when volunteers will collect the wreaths until next year. 
The nonprofit local organization, Friends of the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery (FCTSVC), leads the wreath-laying initiative. Last Saturday, volunteers gathered at the Killeen Special Events Center to fluff the wreaths and prepare them for placement. 
The FCTVC raises funds to purchase wreaths each year and welcomes volunteers to prepare, lay, and retrieve the wreaths.