Uvalde County Honors Veterans with Annual Wreaths Across America Event

The annual Wreaths Across America event in Uvalde County will take place this Saturday, December 13, 2025, where volunteers will lay wreaths on the graves of 700 veterans at Hillcrest Cemetery. Now in its fifth year locally, the effort is led by Uvalde County 4-H, which has taken stewardship since 2022, continuing a tradition initiated by the Leader-News editorial staff in 2021. The event serves to honor veterans nationwide during the holiday season through the placement of live balsam wreaths with red bows on veterans' graves. The local ceremony will feature military branch recognitions, a trumpet rendition of "Taps" and "The Star-Spangled Banner," and color posting by the Uvalde High School Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps. The 4-H Club remains actively involved, having distributed 700 wreaths last year with the support of over 85 volunteers, and continues to seek additional volunteers for wreath placement. Other nearby cemeteries, including Knippa, Waresville, Jones, and Vanderpool Cemeteries, will also participate in the event with their own ceremonies and wreath-laying activities. Wreaths Across America, founded in 2007, now encompasses over 3,700 locations nationwide, including sites in national and state cemeteries as well as international venues like the United States Virgin Islands Cemetery. The event is largely symbolic but contributes to highlighting community support for veterans, paralleling ongoing efforts around veteran healthcare and survivor benefits. Community members are encouraged to attend the event even if they cannot assist with wreath distribution and to consider sponsoring wreaths for future events through designated donation portals. The local 4-H organization facilitates wreath sponsorships and provides a platform for community engagement year-round, reinforcing the cultural and commemorative significance of honoring veterans through this annual tradition.