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News Release

12-03-25 Commissioners Issue Proclamation For Wreaths Across America Day (Photo) - 12/03/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 3, 2025

 

Commissioners Issue Proclamation for Wreaths Across America Day

 

(Douglas County, Ore.) – The Douglas County Commissioners Tim Freeman, Tom Kress, and Chris Boice issued a proclamation today, Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at the Weekly Business Meeting calling upon all citizens of Douglas County to observe Wreaths Across America Day, in celebration of the Annual Wreaths Across America (WAA) event taking place on Saturday, December 13, 2025.  The mission of Wreaths Across America is to “REMEMBER the Fallen, HONOR Those Who Serve and TEACH Our Children the Value of Freedom” with the laying of remembrance Christmas wreaths on veterans’ graves on the second or third Saturday of December each year.  The Commissioners are honored to support the National Wreaths Across America event, especially the efforts of our local community in placing wreaths on veterans’ graves at the Roseburg National Cemetery. 

 

“Wreaths Across America has been a joy for me to be able to participate in and something I look forward to every year.  It has grown into a community effort, which is great.  And it is something we all take an immense amount of pride in doing.  It’s an honor for me to have the opportunity to start with the reading of our Wreaths Across America proclamation. All of the people that helped last year were absolutely instrumental in making the event operate smoothly.  And every one of them that we have called to help this year said yes, again. We could not have been able to accomplish our goals without the community support that we have here in Douglas County!” – Commissioner Boice

 

The proclamation was presented by Commissioner Boice, on behalf of the Board and acknowledged, “we recognize that the mission of Wreaths Across America is to Remember, Honor, Teach.  “REMEMBER the fallen. HONOR those who serve. TEACH the next generation the value of freedom”.  The 2025 Wreaths Across America theme is LIVE WITH PURPOSE.  This year’s local ceremony honors the legacy of United States Air Force Veteran, John Pierson, whose passion project to ensure every veteran’s grave at our Roseburg National Cemetery receives a wreath every December ignited a local movement. In his memory, the 2025 local event has been officially named the John Pierson Memorial Wreaths Across America Event”  Following the reading of the proclamation a video from the national Wreaths Across America nonprofit organization was played.  The video explains why the wreath is a symbol of honor, respect and victory. Visit the following link to watch the video: What is a Veteran's Wreath? | Wreaths Across America Veterans' Wreaths.  Additionally, a copy of the proclamation presentation can be found on the Douglas County Government Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCountyeGovernment.

 

Commissioner Boice acknowledged the generous support of our local sponsors who have made the purchasing and laying of our 7,000 wreaths an annual tradition and legacy project in Roseburg.  He then presented the attending title sponsors with a photo book from the 2024 Douglas County Wreaths Across America Event and a specially designed Douglas County Wreaths Across America coin.  WAA Sponsors attending: Toby Luther, Lone Rock Resources; Denny Austin, Roseburg School District; Garrett Hanna, Timber Country Coca-Cola; Jamie Stweart, Roseburg Disposal; Tammy Turner (US Air Force veteran); Ben Cooper, Romtec; Mark Tsuchiya, Sarah Holborow, and Daleen Thomas, AVIVA Health; and Sarah Pytalski, Ford Family Foundation.  He then presented proclamation certificates to Douglas County WAA location coordinators, himself and Shelley Johnson (Roseburg Sea Cadets); Dougals County WAA Committee - Commissioner Chris Boice, Shelley Johnson, Kellie Trenkle, Tamara Howell, Dan Loomis, and Eric Bagwell; Douglas County WAA event participants: Vietnam Veterans of America – Umpqua Valley Chapter #805, Heidi Wood, Ron Dukes, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff John Hanlin, Undersheriff Brad O’Dell, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, Roger Boucock, Dan Loomis, and Commissioner Tim Freeman. After the certificate presentation, a special 2024 commemorative headstone honoring John Pierson was presented to his brother, Rex Pierson. 

 

            The proclamation presented today is a reminder that the freedoms and liberties we enjoy as Americans owe a debt of gratitude to the courageous men and women who have and currently serve our nation in all branches of our United States Armed Forces, including our reserves.  Today and every day, we especially encourage citizens to support veterans and the local Wreaths Across America effort to honor our veterans. For more information about Wreaths Across America, log onto the Wreaths Across America 's website here.

 

“I have had the honor to attend almost every one of the Wreaths laying events here in Roseburg over the years.  As Commissioner Boice mentioned, they are meaningful.  One of the most important things with Wreaths Across America is the mission to Remember, Honor and Teach - by remembering the fallen, honoring those who served and teaching the next generation the value of freedom.  I think it’s also important for us to remember the veterans who are with us still and the sacrifices they have made. It’s important to honor veterans every single day and to teach the next generation to find and seek out those veterans that are still with us to learn from them, listen to their stories, and gain knowledge from them.” – Commissioner Freeman

 

            The John Pierson Memorial Wreaths Across America Event will take place on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Roseburg National Cemetery starting at 1:00 pm.  We encourage you to join us in honoring our veterans.  Sign up to volunteer or purchase a wreath for the 2026 ceremony at https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/17097.

 

###

Media Contact:     Tamara Howell, Douglas County Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist,

Douglas County Public Affairs Office | Office: (541) 957-4896 | Cell: (541) 670-2804 | Email: tamara.howell@douglascountyor.gov 

 

Proclamation Attached. Photos © K.Tate/Douglas County. Individual photos are available upon request.

 

Attached Media Files: 120325WAAProclamationsigned.pdf, 120325WreathsProclamation.png,

12-03-25 Commissioners Issue Proclamation For Wreaths Across America Day (Photo) - 12/03/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 3, 2025

 

Commissioners Issue Proclamation for Wreaths Across America Day

 

(Douglas County, Ore.) – The Douglas County Commissioners Tim Freeman, Tom Kress, and Chris Boice issued a proclamation today, Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at the Weekly Business Meeting calling upon all citizens of Douglas County to observe Wreaths Across America Day, in celebration of the Annual Wreaths Across America (WAA) event taking place on Saturday, December 13, 2025.  The mission of Wreaths Across America is to “REMEMBER the Fallen, HONOR Those Who Serve and TEACH Our Children the Value of Freedom” with the laying of remembrance Christmas wreaths on veterans’ graves on the second or third Saturday of December each year.  The Commissioners are honored to support the National Wreaths Across America event, especially the efforts of our local community in placing wreaths on veterans’ graves at the Roseburg National Cemetery. 

 

“Wreaths Across America has been a joy for me to be able to participate in and something I look forward to every year.  It has grown into a community effort, which is great.  And it is something we all take an immense amount of pride in doing.  It’s an honor for me to have the opportunity to start with the reading of our Wreaths Across America proclamation. All of the people that helped last year were absolutely instrumental in making the event operate smoothly.  And every one of them that we have called to help this year said yes, again. We could not have been able to accomplish our goals without the community support that we have here in Douglas County!” – Commissioner Boice

 

The proclamation was presented by Commissioner Boice, on behalf of the Board and acknowledged, “we recognize that the mission of Wreaths Across America is to Remember, Honor, Teach.  “REMEMBER the fallen. HONOR those who serve. TEACH the next generation the value of freedom”.  The 2025 Wreaths Across America theme is LIVE WITH PURPOSE.  This year’s local ceremony honors the legacy of United States Air Force Veteran, John Pierson, whose passion project to ensure every veteran’s grave at our Roseburg National Cemetery receives a wreath every December ignited a local movement. In his memory, the 2025 local event has been officially named the John Pierson Memorial Wreaths Across America Event”  Following the reading of the proclamation a video from the national Wreaths Across America nonprofit organization was played.  The video explains why the wreath is a symbol of honor, respect and victory. Visit the following link to watch the video: What is a Veteran's Wreath? | Wreaths Across America Veterans' Wreaths.  Additionally, a copy of the proclamation presentation can be found on the Douglas County Government Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCountyeGovernment.

 

Commissioner Boice acknowledged the generous support of our local sponsors who have made the purchasing and laying of our 7,000 wreaths an annual tradition and legacy project in Roseburg.  He then presented the attending title sponsors with a photo book from the 2024 Douglas County Wreaths Across America Event and a specially designed Douglas County Wreaths Across America coin.  WAA Sponsors attending: Toby Luther, Lone Rock Resources; Denny Austin, Roseburg School District; Garrett Hanna, Timber Country Coca-Cola; Jamie Stweart, Roseburg Disposal; Tammy Turner (US Air Force veteran); Ben Cooper, Romtec; Mark Tsuchiya, Sarah Holborow, and Daleen Thomas, AVIVA Health; and Sarah Pytalski, Ford Family Foundation.  He then presented proclamation certificates to Douglas County WAA location coordinators, himself and Shelley Johnson (Roseburg Sea Cadets); Dougals County WAA Committee - Commissioner Chris Boice, Shelley Johnson, Kellie Trenkle, Tamara Howell, Dan Loomis, and Eric Bagwell; Douglas County WAA event participants: Vietnam Veterans of America – Umpqua Valley Chapter #805, Heidi Wood, Ron Dukes, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff John Hanlin, Undersheriff Brad O’Dell, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, Roger Boucock, Dan Loomis, and Commissioner Tim Freeman. After the certificate presentation, a special 2024 commemorative headstone honoring John Pierson was presented to his brother, Rex Pierson. 

 

            The proclamation presented today is a reminder that the freedoms and liberties we enjoy as Americans owe a debt of gratitude to the courageous men and women who have and currently serve our nation in all branches of our United States Armed Forces, including our reserves.  Today and every day, we especially encourage citizens to support veterans and the local Wreaths Across America effort to honor our veterans. For more information about Wreaths Across America, log onto the Wreaths Across America 's website here.

 

“I have had the honor to attend almost every one of the Wreaths laying events here in Roseburg over the years.  As Commissioner Boice mentioned, they are meaningful.  One of the most important things with Wreaths Across America is the mission to Remember, Honor and Teach - by remembering the fallen, honoring those who served and teaching the next generation the value of freedom.  I think it’s also important for us to remember the veterans who are with us still and the sacrifices they have made. It’s important to honor veterans every single day and to teach the next generation to find and seek out those veterans that are still with us to learn from them, listen to their stories, and gain knowledge from them.” – Commissioner Freeman

 

            The John Pierson Memorial Wreaths Across America Event will take place on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Roseburg National Cemetery starting at 1:00 pm.  We encourage you to join us in honoring our veterans.  Sign up to volunteer or purchase a wreath for the 2026 ceremony at https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/17097.

 

###

Media Contact:     Tamara Howell, Douglas County Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist,

Douglas County Public Affairs Office | Office: (541) 957-4896 | Cell: (541) 670-2804 | Email: tamara.howell@douglascountyor.gov 

 

Proclamation Attached. Photos © K.Tate/Douglas County. Individual photos are available upon request.

 

Attached Media Files: 120325WAAProclamationsigned.pdf, 120325WreathsProclamation.png,