SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The wreath that Payton, age 12, and Aria Duwe, 9, will lay on their great-grandfather’s grave is just one of thousands that Lawrence County 4-H’ers plan to leave at the Springfield National Cemetery during this year’s Wreaths for Warriors ceremony 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16.

The brother and sister belong to the Lawrence County Stockmen 4-H Club. Other local groups had started the wreath-laying tradition several years ago, but Lawrence County 4-H’ers decided to take the project to a new level. Through fundraisers, appeals and non-stop planning, the 4-H’ers, ages 8 through 16, have worked year-round to fund the purchase of enough live evergreen wreaths to lay on each of the cemetery’s tombstones.

The Springfield National Cemetery, on the National Register of Historic Places, is home to the graves of 14,892 American veterans dating back to the Revolutionary War.

“We wanted to give back to all those who served and show our respect,” Payton said. Fellow Stockmen Club members liked the idea and recruited six other Lawrence County clubs to join the effort. Club members have also toured the cemetery to learn about its history from its caretaker and helped place flags on Memorial Day.

The clubs have raised money at parades by passing out 3,200 flags, organized fundraisers at the local Apple Butter Making Days and corn hole tournaments and participated in trash pickups.

Payton applied successfully for a grant from FCS Financial; Jack Henry & Associates in Springfield led an employee donation campaign; and the manager of the Walmart in Republic, Missouri, went out of his way to organize the purchase and delivery of wreaths that are coming by truck all the way from North Carolina. The Missouri 4-H Foundation also provided a community service grant, sponsored by Crader Distributing Co. and STIHLDealers.com, to help underwrite the project and facilitate the Wreaths for Warriors Give Direct platform.

“We really want to thank everyone for their support. We’ve really worked on this, and we’ve come super far toward our goal,” Aria said.

The project reflects 4-H at its best, said Karla Deaver, a University of Missouri Extension youth development specialist who oversees 4-H in Lawrence County.

“It is extremely important that we provide service learning opportunities that are important to our youth,” she said. “It needs to be something that is personal to them, and they need to be involved in the decision-making. Then we can help them share their passion for the project and that significantly increases the chances of successful project.”

Kimberly Duwe, Payton and Aria’s mother and the Stockmen 4-H Club leader, said one of the best parts of the project has been the community support, including from Mount Vernon, a town of about 4,000 people.

“It’s just a small town in Lawrence County, and yet so many people have come out and supported and donated to the kids because they believe in the project and in investing in our future,” Kim Duwe said. “I think this project is a win for humanity. It shows that people of all ages are still out there caring.”

The Wreaths for Warriors ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Springfield National Cemetery is open to the public, and all are welcome. Donations toward the $100,000 goal will be accepted throughout the holidays at https://mizzougivedirect.missouri.edu/fund.aspx?item_id=904.

For more information about getting involved in Missouri 4-H, visit 4h.missouri.edu.

Photos

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Aria Duwe, 9, left, and brother Payton Duwe, 12, members of the Lawrence County Stockmen 4-H Club from the 2022 wreath-laying ceremony at Springfield National Cemetery.

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Veterans honored with wreaths at Springfield National Cemetery in 2022.

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Veterans honored with wreaths at Springfield National Cemetery in 2022.