SAN ANTONIO – As part of the Wreaths Across America campaign, hundreds of volunteers came out to Sam Houston National Cemetery to place wreaths on the headstones.
Volunteers honored the dead by placing a holiday wreath on every headstone at Saturday's event.
Judy Carlile, whose husband is buried at the cemetery, will never forget the first time she laid a wreath at her husband's headstone.
"It will touch your heart in a way that nothing else does, because you're being able to honor your loved one. But it does something to your soul to be able to honor those that you've lost," she said.
Following a short ceremony, the volunteers began unloading and placing more than 17,000 wreaths.
"This is about everyone that wants to support Wreaths Across America and honor their fallen with the Christmas wreath for the Christmas holidays," said Carlile, who worked with Wreaths Across America.
Organizers said 27 different groups from throughout the community volunteered.