GLADEWATER, Texas — Not every East Texas family gets to spend time with their loved ones during the holiday season. Especially, if a member is actively serving or has lost their life while serving in the military.
On December 16, the event Wreaths Across America will host ceremonies across the nation to remember and honor our troop's burial sites. Multiple ceremonies will take place at cemeteries in Longview, Tyler, Nacogdoches, Gladewater, and more.
Gladewater resident Rhonda Owens is the mother of veteran Brad Gaudet. He was killed in action 12 years ago, and she plans to remember her son this Saturday.
"He was a pilot in command, and he flew the Kiowa chopper," Owens said. "He had been in the army for 14 years when he lost his life in Afghanistan Khost Province. Just a couple of weeks before he lost his life, he had just gotten accepted into pilot instructor school."
Gaudet was an East Texas native who became a chief warrant officer on a second level.
Owens is now an American Gold Star Mother of Gaudet and she’s taking part in Wreaths Across America in her son’s memory.
"We recognize that the sacrifice that they gave when they signed up to serve the military," Owens said. "They didn't get a guarantee that they weren't going to be in a life-or-death situation, but they still took that oath, they still serve their country."
Around Gladewater, executive director of the local chamber of commerce Lois Reed said there are 400 buried veterans that the community plans to honor.
"There's lots of World War I, Korean War, World War II (veterans) and we have some more current conflicts that we have sacrificed some of our hometown people for," Reed said.
Over at the Gladewater Memorial Park Cemetery on Friday evening, red flags are placed on the graves that will receive a wreath. Reed said it’s an honor for the city to take part in this event and that it’s also personal to her.
"My father-in-law is buried out here and he was a World War II veteran," Reed said. "So it will be an honor to place a wreath on his tombstone."
Gaudet will also be one of those veterans receiving special recognition. His mom said it's a ceremony that helps her get through the holiday season.
"Some people ask me, 'How can you do this all the time?'," Owens said. "But oh my gosh, what would be the alternative that they were forgotten that what they gave to this country was forgotten? No, I rather have it this way and not just for myself, but like I said for all the other veterans that came back home because when they served their family served too."
If you want to take part in remembering our veterans then stop by the ceremony at the Veterans Memorial in downtown Gladewater Saturday at 11 a.m. The placements of the wreaths will follow at Rosedale Cemetery and the Gladewater Memorial Park Cemetery.