ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Wreaths Across America is asking for your help honoring the nearly 240,000 service members who are buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery through wreath donations.
Thursday marks the deadline to donate and the wreath laying at Jefferson Barracks will take place on Dec. 16.
Like thousands of others across the St. Louis region, the hallowed grounds at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery hold a special place in Kathy Schulte’s heart.
“I have a lot of friends, relatives, and family all buried here at Jefferson Barracks,” said Kathy Schulte.
For the last 9 years, Schulte has made it her mission to honor the sacrifice of each service member laid to rest at Jefferson Barracks.
“We want to remember all of the brave men and women who signed that dotted line who are laid to rest here at JB,” said Schulte. “We want to honor them with a Christmas Wreath.”
Schulte admits she has a dream that some may consider a bit ambitious.
“Some day I want to cover this whole cemetery in one year so that we can be the Arlington of the Midwest,” said Schulte.
This holiday season Schulte is aiming to place 50,000 wreaths at Jefferson Barracks, but there’s one problem.
“We have 15,781 wreaths sponsored as of this morning,” said Schulte. “Last year, we did 32,000. We’re not even at the halfway point from last year.”
Though she understands money is tight for everyone this time of year.
“A wreath is $17,” said Schulte. “It’s a very small amount to give. That’s a couple of coffees through the week to help honor these brave men and women.”
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