Oakwood Cemetery, an official Wreaths Across America (WAA) location, will host a wreath-laying ceremony, coordinated and led by volunteer location coordinators Jonna Gabbert and Susan Harrison-Washington, joining more than 5,200 other locations across the country for National Wreaths Across America Day.
Sponsorship groups have raised funds throughout the year to sponsor the placement of veterans’ wreaths on the headstones of our fallen service members laid to rest there. This annual event seeks to further the yearlong mission to remember, honor, teach, ensuring that the memory of those who served our country endures.
The ceremony will take place at Oakwood Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 13, at noon. Location coordinators, Jonna Gabbert and Susan Harrison-Washington, are seeking local volunteers to assist with wreath placement again this year.
There will be a short ceremony at noon, after which volunteers will place the wreaths. “We were fortunate to have great volunteers putting out wreaths last year, including Parsons High School Honor Flight Program, local VFW Post 704, the American Legion Group from Columbus, Kansas, and individual volunteers,” said Jonna Gabbert. “The wreaths will stay out through the end of February, weather permitting, at which time volunteers will remove them,” said Susan Harrison-Washington. “Volunteers to assist with wreath pick up will be needed and the date for this will be announced later,” noted Gabbert.
Wreaths for Grave Specific Family Placement will be available for pick-up at the Maxwell Chapel Building at Oakwood upon conclusion of the noon ceremony, whether purchased online or with a local Sponsorship Group.
Dec.19, 2026, will be the next WAA Day. To support the local goals for veterans’ wreaths, beginning Dec. 13, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025, WAA HQ will again have a matching campaign. Every wreath sponsored through a registered Sponsorship Group will be matched without cost. Please help to meet our cemeteries’ goals of a wreath for every veteran by sponsoring during this campaign and throughout 2026.
Oakwood Cemetery is located at East Main and Leawood. For more information on how to volunteer or sponsor a Wreath, contact location coordinators, Jonna Gabbert and Susan Harrison-Washington, at 620-404-9262 or 808-283-1482. The Parsons Historical Society and Museum Complex may be contacted for any sponsorship information at 620-450-6060 or [email protected] or WAA at https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/.
