By ALEXANDREA BAILEY
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
This Sunday, Dec. 15, American Legion Post 498 in Port Isabel, will participate in Wreathes Across America [WAA], a holiday created by a nonprofit organization that places wreaths on the graves of veterans and active-duty military members, and honors their families.
“We are happy to be involved with this because it honors veterans,” said Post 498 Commander Phil Rosenlund, a 20-year Air Force veteran. “We do several things a year at the cemeteries honoring veterans, and this is one of the newer things that have been added to help us not forget all that people have done and sacrificed for us to have the freedom that we enjoy.”
Laura Serna Marquez is a USMC veteran who has been in charge of coordinating WAA Brownsville since 2017.
“I was invited to start this project myself, bringing it into Brownsville because it wasn’t getting any further down than Harlingen,” said Marquez.
According to Marquez, the wreaths are handmade by volunteers and are paid for by donations. The price of each wreath is $17.
Wreaths will be placed nationwide on Wreaths Across America Day, Saturday, Dec. 14, and the following day in Port Isabel, Sunday, Dec. 15.
“The wreaths are not for Christmas, or for decoration so they look pretty,” said Marquez. “They’re to honor those who have lost their lives in battle and our veterans.”
Marquez added that an important aspect behind Wreaths Across America is education.
“We use these opportunities to teach our youth the price and cost of freedom,” said Marquez.
According to Marquez, 50 wreaths will be placed this Sunday.
“We hope that with donations and continuous work, we are able to get a little bit more,” said Marquez.
The WAA will match every wreath donated through Jan. 17. Sunday will kick off with a ceremony at 11 a.m. The Port Isabel Cemetery is located at Harbor Light Street.
“Anybody and everyone who’d like to assist is more than welcome,” said Marquez.