Despite the frosty temperatures, on Dec. 13 several volunteers went to the Saint James Missouri Veterans Cemetery to place wreaths on each headstone in honor of Wreaths Across America Day.

St. James, Missouri Veterans Home Assistance League President Keith Livingstone said this was the most volunteers he’d seen ever come.

“This is the largest turnout that I’ve seen since I joined in 2014,” Livingstone said.

It is co-organizer Clay McKinnon’s 11th year helping organize this event.

“It started in 2008 with just ceremonial wreaths on the fence,” McKinnon said. “I am proud to say, that since 2010, every single gravestone here has been honored with a wreath.”

During the ceremony, veterans placed wreaths on the fence of the cemetery to honor each branch of the military. Then the trailer is opened for volunteers to take wreaths and start placing them at headstones, whether it is for lost family members or just to honor all the veterans that rest there.

McKinnon said that donations and volunteers are always welcome.

“Donations can be made through the website, or through the Carol Flett 4 Vets annual golf tournament, which raises money for cemeteries all over our community,” McKinnon said. “Others ways to help are with the actual placing of the wreaths and the clean-up day that follows after the New Year.”

This annual ceremony is part of the National Wreaths Across America Day. It started in 1992, when the Worcester Wreath Company began donating its surplus wreaths to be placed at headstones at Arlington Cemetery. More organizations and individuals began to volunteer, but it wasn’t until 2005, when a photo of all the wreaths, inspired a small town in Maine to do the same in their community.

Wreaths Across America has grown so much since then. Over three million wreaths were sponsored in 2024 to be placed in 4,909 locations across the U.S.

For McKinnon, his journey with Wreaths Across America started with helping previous ceremony organizer Art Compton. Although he didn’t immediately take over after Compton, McKinnon keeps his dreams alive.

“It has been an honor helping keep his dreams going all these years,” McKinnon said.

Each year, McKinnon looks forward to personally escorting the wreaths in for the ceremony.

“My favorite memories are watching some of these veterans as they help place a wreath for their represented branch during the ceremonial wreath laying,” McKinnon said.

Livingstone said that it has been a while since veterans have come out.

“This is the first time veterans have come out since COVID,” Livingstone said.

Men, women and children came out to make sure every veteran was honored.

For more information on the organization, to sponsor a wreath or to sign up to volunteer for 2026, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org.