Family members and volunteers from across the state turned out Saturday to lay fresh wreaths adorned with red bows at the final resting place of the hundreds of veterans interred at the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery.

The somber, seasonal event also occurred at more than 3,700 cemeteries and locations across the country as part of Wreaths Across America. The event is held annually on the third Saturday in December.

“Today, over two and a half million wreaths will be placed by more than two million family members and volunteers on veterans’ headstones in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and on foreign soil,” Cemetery Administrative Assistant Susan Daggett.

The wreath laying ceremony is a way to remember the fallen, the prisoners of war, the missing in action and honor those who have served and those who continue to serve in the armed services, as well as educate others, Daggett said.

“We must teach the next generation, our children, the value of freedom,” she said. “It is the young and fearless at heart, the most diverse and educated generation in our history, who the nation is waiting to follow.”

Palma Vanacore, whose husband retired Air Force master sergeant Robert John Vanacore, is buried at the cemetery said she has never seen the cemetery as beautiful as it was Saturday with all the bright green and red wreaths placed at veterans’ graves.

“How wonderful it is to know that every veteran buried in a veteran’s cemetery has a Christmas wreath donated by someone,” Vanacore said. “There are presently wreaths put in cemeteries in almost 4,000 locations all over our country. We live in a great place.”

Cemetery Director Dwayne Guidry said 476 wreaths were laid at the graves of veterans and their dependents this year. During the first cemetery four years ago, nearly 170 wreaths were placed on the gravesites.

“These wreaths represent our commitment as a united America to remember the fallen,” he said. “We also want these holiday wreaths to symbolize our honor to those who have served and are serving in the armed forces of our great nation and to their families who endure sacrifices everyday on our behalf.”

Those placing a wreath were encouraged to say the name of the veteran they were honoring aloud and thank them for their service while placing the wreath on the grave.

Beth Allen of Ocean Springs, Miss. and her sister Rosemary Bergeron of Lafayette came to place a wreath on their father’s grave with their mother.

“This is something I can do for my Daddy,” an emotional Allen said while being supported by her sister.

Their father, William Verrett, an Air Force medic during the Vietnam era was buried last month. He was among the 130 veterans to be interred at the cemetery this year.

“I think this is a really good memorial to the veterans,” said Sedonia Menard of Roanoke. “We need to remember, respect and honor them for what they did for us. Without them we wouldn’t have what we have today.”

Her husband, Army Sgt. First Class Jason Wayne Menard died in February 2022.

Ressie Stutes of Jennings, whose uncle Edward Lee Gary, a Vietnam veteran, was one of the first veterans to be buried at the cemetery in 2017 was among those who took time away from their busy holiday schedule to pause and remember the sacrifice of veterans and their families.

“I think this is beautiful and very meaningful,” Stutes said of the volunteers. “So many don’t have relatives here to do this for them and to thank them for their service and putting their lives on the line.”

Norman Terrebonne, who served in the Army for 22 years, attended the cemetery to pay his respect as a veteran to other veterans.

“It’s an honor to see so many people out here taking time to honor our veterans who are interred here,” he said, pausing at the gravesite of Martin Savoy, Sr., a Vietnam veteran who died in 2021.

Candice Rideau and Inger Bethea, both of Welsh, laid a wreath on the grave of their father, Clarence Ray Simon Jr., an Army veteran, who died in February 2023.

“This is our first year to do this and it means everything to us,” Rideau said.

The ceremony also included a moment of silence, patriotic music performed by the Jennings Elementary fourth grade class and recognition of families with loved ones buried in the cemetery and those veterans who served and those who continue to serve.