Christmas Honors invites the citizens of the Fort Smith Region to help honor the servicemen and women of our community who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation at the 14th Annual Christmas Honors event. This December, family, friends, and volunteers will transform the Fort Smith National Cemetery by placing a wreath on each of the 16,000+ headstones in their honor. Wreath Workshop on Friday, December 2, 2022Volunteers will unpack, fluff and organize the wreaths in preparation for Saturday’s event. There is no sign up required. Volunteers can stop by and help. We ask that volunteers are 9th grade and older for safety reasons.
Fort Smith Convention Center Hall C from 9:00AM-2:00PM
Trucks and trailers are needed to help transport the wreaths. Contact Todd McCorkle for details. 479-652-3553
NEW! Christmas Honors Limited Edition Ornaments ($20/each), “Remember our Veterans” Yard Signs $20/each and CH Lapel Pins ($5/each) are available for purchase at Asset Management 1206 Fort St., Barling, AR this M-Th 9a-2:30p and then Friday at the Fort Smith Convention Center Hall C from 9am-Noon. All proceeds go towards the purchase of new wreaths and bows for the upcoming year.
Christmas Honors Wreath Event on Saturday, December 3, 2022This is day of reflection, love and honor for those who have served our country and their families. A wreath will be laid at an angle against the headstone of every veteran in the cemetery.
Fort Smith National Cemetery
Family time 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. - Please respect this time to allow the families of our heroes to lay wreaths on their loved one’s headstone(s).
Public Ceremony 11:00 a.m. at the pavilion. Guest Speaker: Terisa C. Riley, Ph.D., Chancellor, University of Arkansas Fort Smith
Public Laying of the Wreaths will be at approximately 11:30 a.m. – Immediately following the ceremony, attendees will be asked to lay wreaths on all remaining headstones.
Wreath Pick Up and Storage on Thursday, January 5, 2023Volunteers will be needed to help pick up the 16,000+ wreaths, clean, and pack up the wreaths.
Fort Smith Convention Center Hall C from 9:00AM-2:00PM
Trucks and trailers are needed to help transport the wreaths.
** In 2009, a volunteer group began the local program, Christmas Honors. The mission was to transform the National Cemetery in Fort Smith each December into a vision of beauty, and the families of those buried at cemetery to take comfort in seeing the respect that is shown to their grandfathers, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, friends, and other fallen heroes who so loved our Country. The first year more than 1,000 volunteers respectfully placed a wreath on each of the 12,000 headstones. The program has since grown to serving 16,000+ veterans and their families.For more information, visit www.ChristmasHonors.org or Facebook @ChristmasHonors
Original source can be found here.
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