THIS BLOG WILL BE RELOCATING TO OUR FACEBOOK SITE-

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA HOUSTON PROJECT-

PLEASE CHECK US OUT THERE.

SHANNON

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6kCOypp_v8

GRAB A BOX OF KLEENEX-YOU ARE GONNA NEED IT!!!!!!

This is the video from the WAA ceremony for 2008.

Pass it around if you get an opportunity-it is absolutely amazing.

Please sign up for our Facebook page too Wreaths Across America Houston Project.

7/14/2009

Looks like we wont get a chance to meet tonight. The Ring leader has business out of town. BUT-we will have our volunteers gathering at the I-HOP on Wednesday July 15,2009 instead.

Hopefully I will have some super exciting information to report afterwards.

We are also getting a new Facebook page-I'll post the 411 in regards as soon as I get it!

I certainly hope everyone had a HAPPY July 4th...uh-that would be INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!! Just in case the meaning of the actual date escapes people-but I certainly hope not-especially if you are reading this blog!! I know KHOU started airing info on the Wreath's Across America project this past weekend. And hopefully this will get the giving season in full swing!!

Some Kuddos Info-On Wednesday June 24, 2009, KHOU and WAA Houston received an award from Leadership in Action in the category of Military Outreach.  We are all thrilled that the our cause received additional recognition.

And onto business-We are in full cycle now for FUNDS!!! With the exhausted economy it seems very hard for anyone to find an additional $15.00 to purchase a wreath for the December 12, 2009 ceremony.......BUT, it all then boils down to what am I willing to give up this week? So-for me it has been the everyday Starbucks run-SORRY Starbucks (you get enough cash)! This was a given cut back anyway with the scare of cash on hand. So, the $4.00 coffee - has become $1.00 in the WAA water Jug & $3.00 in my pocket. If I stick a buck a day in the jug-I've purchased 2 wreaths a month.....not a bad investment in my personal opinion.

I can think of lots of things I could spend the cash on-but I am of the firm belief that the Honor we pay to those fallen Soldiers and their families outweighs my Caffiene addiction 10 fold!!!!

With that being said....more updates below........

Wreaths Across America-Houston is looking for volunteers to help with all events coming up.

You may be asked to work a booth, help with fundraising and such. We are now at Summer kick-off and Channel 11 KHOU has now started advertising for WAA-Houston again. If you are in fact interested in playing a role for this years event and are serious about volunteering time we will be meeting at the Ihop at 59 and 1960 in Humble on July 14th at 6pm. This is a regularily scheduled meeting for our group and all things may be discussed. We are in dire need of more volunteers for this year.

And again.....NEXT MEETING JULY 14th @ 6pm IHOP-Hwy 59 & FM 1960 Humble!!!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009 - Houston, TX.   Wreaths Across America volunteers placed a record number of 14,000 wreaths on our fallen soldier’s burial sites at the Houston National Cemetery.

This exciting and emotional event took place December 13^th with over 8,000 people in attendance.  Volunteers placed live Maine wreaths with large red bows on each burial site.  Guest speakers amongst others included Senator Dan Patrick, Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs William F. Tuerk, and Deputy Commanding General Henry J. Ostermann.       

By following the example set by the Worcester Wreath Company, a father who simply wanted to answer a question his son asked grew into a bigger than Texas project.  Alex deMasi, now eight years old, was curious why the Houston National Cemetery didn’t get all the wreaths like those laid at Arlington National Cemetery.  Alex’s father, Scott deMasi, wanted to help him learn about our military and what it means to be an American.  After learning more about the process and putting together an incredible team of volunteers, the group set out to place a wreath on every one of the 53,000+ graves. 

Although falling short of the goal for 2008, the group managed to get donations for a record-breaking 14,000 wreaths for our fallen soldiers.  In a solemn escort through Houston by more than 250 motorcycles, police officers and military personnel, the 3 tractor-trailers pulled into the cemetery filled with volunteers ready to place the wreaths.  The emotional event was the largest ever done in the United States and proved to be an awe-inspiring sight upon completion.  The group has since started the campaign for the 2009 wreath laying event and is seeking donors.                

The date for 2009 Houston Wreath Ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 11:00 AM at the Houston National Cemetery.  (rain or shine).

For monetary or volunteer information, please visit: http://www.waahouston.com

About Wreaths Across America – Houston

Wreaths Across America Houston is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to honoring veterans buried at the Houston National Cemetery.  Tax deductible donations are requested to fund its goal of placing a wreath at all 53,000 gravesites.  The Wreaths Across America story began over 15 years ago when Worcester Wreath Company (a for-profit commercial business from Harrington, Maine) began a tradition of placing wreaths on the headstones of our Nation's fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery during the holidays.  Over that period of time, Worcester Wreath has donated 90,000 wreaths which were placed by volunteers in a wreath-laying ceremony each December. But as word spread, the mission to Remember; Honor; and Teach about the sacrifices made by our veterans has captured the hearts and minds of many communities across the Country.

Contact Information:

Wreaths Across America – Houston                       Phone:  (281) 540-9444 

                4582 Kingwood Dr., #247                                          Web:  www.waahouston.com

                Kingwood, TX  77345                                 E-mail:  info@waahouston.com

HOWDY Wreathers-

We will have our February wreath meeting Tuesday February 17th @ 6pm.

Location the IHOP in Humble.

We are looking for commited volunteers to help in this monumentous project.

Our goal this year is to cover Houston National Cemetary in wreaths.

We were 40,000 wreaths shy in our Inagrual year.

Please help us make 2009's Goal!

Looking forward to updating you all on our progress Wednesday.

Hope to see some new - interested - hard working faces at our meeting tomorrow.

THE BLOG MASTER

We did it Y'all-after a month & a half of hectic hustling to find a removal location-WE DID IT!!!! Unfortunately our initial recycling company backed out on us. We were stressed-what are we suppose to do with 14,000 wreaths???? A wonderful biker named Rebel offered his land as our recycle alternative. So the convoy took the 14,000 some odd wreaths to his land in Crosby and he will burn the pine and recycle the metal for us. WHAT a lifesaver. The Marek Family of Companies donated three dump trucks and drivers and a Local U-Haul supplied us with 4 trucks for taking the wreath's to their final ground. And our Volunteers-WOW-hard hard workers!! We scooped up the wreaths and clipped those bows like professionals-and a little over an hour later-WE WERE DONE!!! At least for now!

And so the corporate begging begins. Lovely way to look at it-but it must be done. We REALLY want ot cover all 53,000 + headstones in December 2009.

Know anyone at your companies in charge of Charitable Contributions or Sponsorships? hmmmmmmm hmmmmmmm? I'm waiting anxiously for you to post them!!!!

Thank you Everyone AGAIN for such amazing Team Work !!!!!

The WAA Blog Master!

Well, it's been a little over a month and we are now preparing to go and clean up HNC.  Several  Volunteers are needed now.  What a spectacular showing of how Houston cares for their soldiers and vets.  Let's continue to show the rest of the country how proud we are of our guys & gals in uniform.

Feel free to comment or leave a message.