September 22, 2025 - “I became interested in researching my ancestors through my involvement with Wreaths Across America,” began Gina Bradshaw, speaking to the September 17 monthly meeting of the Timpson Area Genealogical and Heritage Society. A member of the Garrison Heritage Society, Bradshaw continued, “I saw in volvement in Wreaths Across America as a way to honor my uncle, Bob Pugh who was a Vietnam vet and is buried at Cold Springs. I didn't know much about Wreaths Across America when I called them and asked how I could get involved five years ago but I soon found out. Each December, Wreaths Across America places living balsam wreaths on the graves of all veterans who are buried in a designated cemetery. They require a local coordinator and a co-coordinator and the permission of the cemetery to place the wreaths. Finding people who want to participate isn't too hard and getting the permission of the cemeteries in rural East Texas isn't either.”
“The next thing W.A.A. wanted to know was how many veterans are buried in the Cold Springs cemetery. I didn't really know, so I guessed forty-five. A friend whose father is buried at Greenwood in Garrison wanted to know if I could include that cemetery too, so I guessed about thirty-five or forty veterans buried there too,” Bradshaw continued. “My sister-in-law has a brother buried at Holly Springs and asked if I could add that cemetery too. It's a smaller cemetery, so I guess there were five or six vets buried there. Janie Ramsey and I had already done some research on Caledonia so we decided to include that cemetery too, even though we didn't know how many veterans were buried there. The first year we did this, W.A.A. was very generous and sent us sixty-six or sixty-eight wreaths, free of charge. On the day we were to place the wreaths, it came a flood! We met under the canopy at Cold Springs, had a prayer and a short explanation of Wreaths Across America, and grabbed wreaths and took off! We have grown each year, recently adding Harmony, and now we are going to lay almost six hundred wreaths on December 13!”
“About two years ago I learned that Wreaths Across America has a sponsorship program. If you get involved with the sponsorship program, for almost a month, beginning with Wreaths Across America Day, for almost a month we can get two wreaths for the price of one. When we started five years ago the wreaths were $15 a piece,” Bradshaw continued. “They're up to $17 a piece now, but we can get two for the price of one if people date their checks during the designated period, so Janie and I started a sponsorship program called Garrison W.A.A.. It was really easy to do. You don't need a bank account. You just give W.A.A. the name of your sponsorship group and the cemeteries under your sponsorship.”
“On the day of our ceremony we meet on the square in Garrison and it has been really special. The Sons of Confederate Veterans come and bring their cannon and fire it. We used to have all the wreaths at the square and try to load them into everyone's vehicles but the wreaths shed little needles which got into everyone vehicles. We now lay so many wreaths that they come in on an eighteen wheeler. Volunteers all over American donate their time and deliver these wreaths for free,” Bradshaw shared. “Obviously, since we will lay almost six hundred wreaths this year, we now know that there are many more veterans in our cemeteries than I estimated initially. More and more people are getting involved in the Wreaths Across American program, which I think reflects a rise in patriotism in our country. My grandchildren look forward to Wreaths Across American Day and love going to the cemetery and laying the wreaths. If this is something you would like to get involved in, as I said, it's very easy. Just contact W.A.A. and they will walk you through it.”
“Something we are doing in Garrison later this year which we hope will help encourage a sense of community and an awareness of our history is the Wiley Hotel and Greenwood Cemetery Tour on Saturday, November 8,” Bradshaw revealed. “For $10 you get to tour the hotel and go on the cemetery tour. People thought I had lost my mind when I first proposed this but it has gained support and people are really excited about it. We're going to open the hotel up, including the upper rooms that nobody ever gets to see. Most of those rooms are named after people who lived in the hotel in the early Twentieth Century and many of their descendants plan to attend. The rooms are furnished with antique furniture and include some photographs and personal effects of the person who lived in it. Other people are bringing things that reflect the history of Garrison. For example, Ronnie Collins is bringing the old cash register from Tinkle's Department Store. There will be some items from the old school on display, as well. I think everybody in Garrison is looking for old pictures to share. We have a woman who is in her 90s flying from El Paso to attend because her family once lived in the hotel. A desk chair which belonged the Capt. Jim Garrison, the town's founder, will be displayed.”
“I am really excited about the Greenwood Cemetery tour,” Bradshaw shared. “We're going to have people in period costumes to tell the story of the families buried there. We have done a lot of research on the cemetery, including why it is called Greenwood Cemetery. There will be flag on all the veteran's graves, with Confederate flags marking the graves of those who fought for the South. The graves of people who lived in Texas during the days of the Republic will be marked with Texas flags. The graves of seven of Garrison's oldest families will be marked with a specially colored flag unique to each family.”
TAGHS meets at 2PM on the third Wednesday of each month in the meeting room of the Timpson Public Library, located on the corner of Austin and Bremond Streets. The public is always welcome.
