The Highlands Rotary Club heard from Charlie Ward this week, about fund raising to support the Houston Wreaths Across America program, which will take place at Houston National Cemetery on Saturday, December 17 at 11:00 a.m.
Ward said that this year, donations at his business, Charlies Ice House, had totalled almost $20,000, and last year $10,000 to support the program.
Wreaths are purchased, for $15 each, and laid on cemetery markers to thank and remember the veteran who gave his or her life for the freedom of others. The mission of the program, is to Remember, honor, and Teach. In Houston, there are 70,000 gravesites in the veterans cemetery. The goal is to place a wreath on each one.
After Charlie Ward and his friends participate in the ceremony, he plans to return to the Ice House and have a community event to Celebrate the Season. There will be an evening ful of fun, food and fellowship, and a buffet style meal will be served.
Ward invites all the community to the event, with special emphasis on veterans.
Disable Vet Bill Callahan will be there to share his experiences with others. Callahan is known for walking across America in 1986, in spite of a crippling injury in Vietnam. He is currently raising money for other veterans, he said.