Wreaths Across America honors 3,100 fallen heroes at Texas State Cemetery

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) - Not one veteran’s headstone at the Texas State Cemetery was bare Saturday morning, each was adorned with holiday cheer. Every December, Wreaths Across America honors fallen heroes my laying wreaths on veterans’ graves in Washington D.C at Arlington National Cemetery and more than 1,400 other cemeteries around the world.

Governor Greg Abbott said this year’s crowd of volunteers was the largest he’s seen in three years. 

"We gather for just one moment here today at the Texas State Cemetery to lay wreaths on the graves of soldiers to preserve our freedom to celebrate holidays in the first place," Gov. Abbott said. "Now we can never repay the debt that we owe to all of the heroes who rest in this cemetery but we can honor their service and their sacrifice by blanketing their resting places with wraths and remembrance."  

A family from Boerne received a wreath to pay tribute to their son, Air Force Captain Tyler Voss. Captain Voss’s plane went down on May 3rd, 2013. "We are so honored and privileged to be here today. We are blessed to live in a country who remembers those who have served for our country and for our freedoms," said Mary Voss, Capt. Voss’s mother.

Among honoring veterans, seven wreaths were placed at the grave sites of military leaders. Each wreath recognized a united states military branch, prisoners of war or those missing in action, and gold star families.