Wreaths Across America Returns to Houston National Cemetery to Honor 100,000 Veterans on December 13
On the morning of December 13, 2025, thousands of Houstonians will gather at Houston National Cemetery to honor the lives of those who gave everything for our country. As part of the annual Wreaths Across America event, volunteers will lay remembrance wreaths at the gravesites of veterans—each placed with care, each name spoken aloud, ensuring no hero is ever forgotten.
The ceremony begins at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, with wreath placement following immediately after. It’s more than a gesture—it’s a living tribute of remembrance, unity, and gratitude.
A Local Event with National Roots
Houston National Cemetery is one of more than 5,200 participating locations across the country and abroad taking part in this annual movement. The goal at this local site is ambitious but deeply meaningful: to cover all 100,000 veteran graveswith remembrance wreaths. As of this week, more than 32,000 wreaths have been sponsored, with more needed to reach full coverage.
This tradition has grown into one of the nation’s largest grassroots memorial efforts—but it all began with a small act of kindness more than 30 years ago.
In 1992, Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company in Maine, had extra wreaths left over during the holiday season. Recalling a boyhood visit to Arlington National Cemetery that left a lasting impression, he decided to donate them to honor veterans buried there. With the help of Senator Olympia Snowe, local volunteers, and trucking companies, those wreaths made their way to Arlington.
What started quietly soon captured the hearts of millions. In 2005, a photo of snow-covered, wreath-adorned gravestones at Arlington went viral, sparking a wave of support from every corner of the country. By 2006, ceremonies were being held in more than 150 locations. The next year, Wreaths Across America became an official nonprofit with a simple but powerful mission: Remember. Honor. Teach.
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More Than a Wreath
Each wreath placed represents a name, a face, a story. It’s more than holiday greenery—it’s a circle of eternal life, laid with love and remembrance. And each one is placed by a volunteer who pauses to say the veteran’s name aloud, a sacred act that ensures their memory lives on.
As Karen Worcester, Executive Director of Wreaths Across America, shares: “There will always be challenges to overcome as individuals, communities, and a country, but we must keep moving forward together.”
This year’s national theme, “Keep Moving Forward,” reflects the resilience of the nation’s veterans and those who carry their legacy. From Gold Star families to first-time volunteers, everyone plays a role in passing down the values of service, sacrifice, and freedom.
A Community Effort in Houston
In Houston, Scott DeMasi and Kathy Torres serve as location coordinators, helping to rally volunteers, sponsors, and supporters from across the region. Families, scout troops, veterans’ groups, schools, and neighbors are all encouraged to participate—whether by sponsoring a wreath, laying one down, or helping with the post-holiday cleanup scheduled for January 10, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.
Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Many parents bring their children to teach them firsthand about honor and sacrifice—not through a textbook, but through experience.
Get Involved: How You Can Help
1. Sponsor a Wreath
Help honor all 100,000 veterans buried at Houston National Cemetery by sponsoring a wreath in memory of a loved one or letting WAA assign it to a grave in need.
2. Volunteer
Sign up to place wreaths during the event. It’s a hands-on way to connect with our nation’s history and the stories of the fallen.
3. Spread the Word
Invite others to join—friends, coworkers, community groups—so that no veteran is left without remembrance this holiday season.
To learn more, sponsor a wreath, or sign up to volunteer, visit the official Houston National Cemetery Wreaths Across America page.
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Honoring Service Beyond the Holidays
Wreaths Across America isn’t just about one day in December. The organization supports year-round efforts through programs like TEACH, which engages youth in civic education; the Remembrance Tree Program, where families dedicate living trees as memorials to loved ones; and a Veteran Sponsorship Program that has raised over $20 million to benefit military families and veteran causes.
The message is clear: Honoring veterans is not a seasonal act—it’s a national responsibility, lived every day.
Event Details
- What: Wreaths Across America Ceremony & Wreath Placement
- Where: Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77038
- When: Saturday, December 13, 2025
- Ceremony at 11:00 AM
- Wreath Placement immediately afterward
- Wreath Clean-up on January 10, 2026 at 8:00 AM
This December, join the Houston community in honoring our fallen heroes—not with silence, but with stories, remembrance, and the simple act of saying their names. Because every headstone has a name. Every name has a story. And every story deserves to be remembered.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
