The holidays are here, and local veterans groups on Saturday worked to honor fallen veterans at local cemeteries with wreaths.

Camelot Gardens affords the space and the materials each year for volunteers and veterans to make wreaths out of Christmas tree clippings.

who once a year get together at Camelot Gardens to craft the pieces. (Justin Tubbs | Montrose Business Times)

The event is an annual collaboration between the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, the local VFW chapter and more, after the American Legion Riders started the program some  years ago.

Fred Schaefer, a retired Army veteran, led the volunteer efforts this past Saturday, when around 45 showed up to make more than 500 wreaths for the graves of American veterans.

Some of the decor adorns the grave of a deceased veteran. Local vet groups work together every year to honor the deceased veterans. (Justin Tubbs | Montrose Business Times)

“We just can’t forget them. You can’t forget them,” said Schaefer while standing at Grand View Cemetery on Saturday. “So our three big times of the year are Memorial Day, when we place small graveside flags on each and every one. And then Veterans Day, we come up and we do a Veterans Day ceremony with the big flags and then Christmas, we do these wreaths.”

The whole process took a couple hours with the amount of manpower they had on Saturday. They crafted around 400 of the wreaths before realizing they didn’t have enough.

So everyone rallied back to Camelot Gardens after placing what wreaths they had made already.

After a second round of crafting, they had made more than 500.

Jesse Bailey was one of the many volunteers out on a chilly December Saturday to make the wreaths. He said he enjoys the camaraderie.

Volunteers worked Saturday to make clippings with ribbon for around 400 Montrose graves at Valley Lawn and Grandview cemeteries.

“It’s recognizing our veterans, our fallen veterans, and working with the other veterans, celebrating together,” he said.

But it’s not just making wreaths that honors the fallen. Rick Bresett, one of the volunteers and a veteran, said they honor all of the deceased as they place the wreaths.

“It’s not just tossed on there,” he said. “The individual’s name is spoken by the person laying the wreath and saluting, giving a Merry Christmas. So it’s touching, you know? We make that extra time to do that.”

Sheree Wanner, owner of Camelot Gardens, said she is proud to help with the program each year.

“I would say I feel very dedicated to the veterans,” she said. “Without them, I wouldn’t have y freedom, and I do most anything I can for them… I am just so proud of them all.”

The wreaths can be seen on the graves at Valley Lawn and Grand View cemeteries through the holidays.

This story is by Justin Tubbs, the Montrose Business Times editor. He can be reached by email at justin@montrosebusinesstimes.com or by phone at 970-765-0915 or mobile at 254-246-2260.