At 11:00 a.m. on December 16, 2023, volunteers will lay wreaths on more than 20,000 graves in Veteran Cemeteries across Missouri to honor our nation’s heroes as part of Wreaths Across America. Five Missouri Veteran Cemeteries will be participating in this event.
The Missouri Veterans Commission will host Wreaths Across America, a holiday wreath-laying event, to honor and remember our nation’s Veterans. The Missouri Veterans Commission has collaborated with Wreaths Across America since 2009.
“This event is so special every year,” said Missouri Veterans Commission Executive Director Paul Kirchhoff. “I encourage everyone to come on out to one of our cemeteries on December 16 and participate.”
Wreaths Across America started in 1992 when the Worcester Wreath Company began donating wreaths to be placed at the headstones in Arlington National Cemetery. Building on that 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. To learn more about the Wreaths Across America, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org/.
Media are welcome to attend and photograph as volunteers lay wreaths at each of the five Missouri Veterans Cemeteries. Interviews with volunteers and Cemetery Directors are also available. The wreath laying is expected to last at least one hour at each cemetery.
Missouri Veterans Cemetery – Bloomfield
17357 Stars and Stripes Way
Bloomfield, MO 63825
CONTACT: Tammy Smith, Cemetery Director – 573-568-3871
Missouri Veterans Cemetery – Ft. Leonard Wood
25350 Highway H
Waynesville, MO 65583
CONTACT: Stacy Wilson, Cemetery Director – 573-774-3496
Missouri Veterans Cemetery – Higginsville
20109 Business Hwy 13
Higginsville, MO 64037
CONTACT: Kelly Larkin, Cemetery Director – 660-584-4830
Missouri Veterans Cemetery – Jacksonville
1479 County Road 1675
Jacksonville, MO 65260
CONTACT: Alison Evans, Cemetery Director – 660-372-6024
Missouri Veterans Cemetery – Springfield
5201 S. Southwood Road
Springfield, MO 65804
CONTACT: Tony Cupples, Cemetery Director – 417-823-3944
