Miller High School club laying wreaths at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery to honor those who served

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - Saturday, thousands across America will be laying wreaths on the graves of veterans. Here locally, students with the Miller High School Military Honor Committee will be laying wreaths at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery here in Springfield.

The program is overseen by Veterans in Defense of Liberty. That is a Springfield organization.

It’s something students like Kylie Hull say is important to do.

“It’s important for us to recognize what they’re doing for us. A lot of it goes unrecognized and sometimes even forgotten, so it’s important to bring light to that so we see what’s being done and really recognize what they’ve done,” said Hull.

Students from the committee will be holding a ceremony before laying wreaths. Something their club supervisor, Lanette Kleeman, says is crucial to honor veterans and their families.

“We have felt for a long time that we here at Miller enjoy the benefits of our students honoring veterans, and the veterans really enjoy that. There’s something special about that age, being recognized by young students, that they really enjoy,” said Kleeman.

The students will be part of groups laying around a thousand wreaths at the cemetery. For some students, like senior Emma Butler, this is a personal endeavor.

“My great-grandpa was in the Navy, and so was my papa. My Papa Gray served in World War II and in the Korean War, and he was very special to me. He passed away recently, and he’s actually buried there at the cemetery. My papa served, so he’ll be buried there, he’s not passed away yet,” said Butler. “Me and my sisters love to go in, and we set wreaths on their graves, and we love to honor them there.”

The director at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Tony Cupples, says that they do this every year through Wreaths Across America and that it’s a great way to honor our veterans.

“It’s honoring those that have served, remembering those that have lost their lives, those that have served, no matter what branch it is. It’s just honoring that dedication, that sacrifice for our country, for the freedoms that we have,” said Cupples.

This is the fifth year Miller High School will be participating, but the first year that they’re leading the event.

“This will be our fifth year to be involved with Wreaths Across America,” said Kleeman. “and we’ve taken our group before where they’ve just laid wreaths. This year we are in charge of the ceremony and my honor committee kids will actually be emcees for the day and they will be leading that ceremony.”

Kleeman says she hopes the students are able to take away an important lesson.

“I hope that they take away a deep sense of respect for those that have paid for our freedom, and that they teach others about it, so that we get more students involved with what’s happening with Wreaths Across America,” said Kleeman.

Students say they hope the families of veterans will get something out of this as well.

“I hope they feel honored and special knowing that they have veterans in their family who are not being forgotten about,” said Hull.

If you’re interested in volunteering, you can show up to the event. It starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

“We like everyone to participate, whether they’re the five-year-old coming with their parents, or a 95-year-old showing their grandchildren what this is all about. So this is really a family event, and we encourage everyone to come out, especially those who have purchased wreaths. We’d ask them to come out so that they could ensure that their loved one will receive a wreath,”

If you want to donate to Wreaths Across America, you can visit their website here.

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