A nationwide movement to pay homage to deceased veterans has come to Hopkins County. Last December, the first Wreaths Across America event in Sulphur Springs was organized by Dena Loyd and held at City Cemetery with a ceremony and a laying of over 500 wreaths on headstones of veterans buried there. The 2019 observance will be held on the same day across the nation, at 11am, and in Hopkins County at Sulphur Springs City Cemetery as well as at Black Oak Cemetery. Loretta Scott of Pickton is a board member of the Black Oak Cemetery and was very impressed when she attended the 2018 tribute in town. Through her efforts, Black Oak Cemetery is now recognized by the Wreaths Across America organization as Texas Cemetery # 0733.
According to Loretta, “there are 23 wreaths still needed to cover the 71 veterans graves at Black Oak. For this first year, our delegation plans to attend the ceremony at Sulphur Springs City Cemetery on Saturday December 14, then return to Black Oak to lay the wreaths there. If you would like to help complete the number of wreaths for Black Oak, please go online to wreathsacrossamerica.org and make your donation by December 4, 2019. If you donate $15, one wreath will be sent. If you donate $30, three wreaths will be sent to us, through the generosity of the organization. Or you can mail a check to the address you will find online. Please note the ID number of the Black Oak Cemetery on your order, that’s TX0733. The wreaths will be shipped to Sulphur Springs one day prior to the ceremony and sorted for distribution. This is an opportunity to help complete the number of wreaths needed”.
The Co-ordinator for Hopkins County’s role in the national event is Dena Loyd. You are invited to attend the public ceremony on Saturday December 14 at 11am, and afterwards, you will be welcome to join others in placing the wreaths and speaking aloud the name of those who served our country during their lifetimes. Families are encouraged to bring their children. The mission of the annual event is ‘Remember, Honor, and Teach’.
