Gov. Mike Parson took a moment Tuesday to recognize the sacrifices of those who serve their country.
Parson, who served six years in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps and Criminal Investigation Division, welcomed two representatives from Wreaths Across America to his office, where they presented him with a wreath stuffed with flags representing U.S. military branches and prisoners of war.
Rick Hirsch, who served 21 years before retiring from the Army, presented the wreath and said it was for the governor and first lady.
"The wreath before you represents commitment to the United States, a united Missouri and remembering the fallen," Hirsch said. "We also want this holiday wreath to symbolize our honor to those who have served and are serving in the armed forces now."
The governor said it was a huge honor to be part of the ceremony.
He said people who step up to serve their country are special and so are the people who recognize and honor their contributions.
Part of his job as a public servant and leader of the state, he said, is to "do our part and make sure that those lives weren't in vain."
"I think at the end of the day that's what our job is, why we're here," Parson said.
He said the sacrifice military service members and their families make is always more noticeable around the holidays.
Kelli Jones, a spokeswoman for the Governor's Office, said the wreath will stay in the Governor's Office throughout the holiday season.
Hirsch, who traveled in from Dixon to present the wreath, said he thought the brief ceremony went well.
"The governor was very appreciative of it, and I got a chance to be with some other veterans, so that makes it good," he said.
Rose Noonan, an Army veteran who traveled in from near Fort Leonard Wood to help present the wreath, said Wreaths Across America involved the Missouri Governor's Office because he's an important figure in the state.
"And this particular governor is prior service," she said. "He's a veteran himself so he understands all the importance of the Wreaths Across America program."
Wreaths Across America is an annual tradition that began in 2006 as a way to remember and honor military service members for their efforts in preserving freedom, Hirsch said.
The nonprofit organizes wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 3,400 locations around the globe each holiday season, according to its website.
Volunteers will descend on 1,400 cemeteries across the country and overseas Saturday to plant wreaths at the graves of veterans. It coincides with the laying of ceremonial wreaths at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia.
Eight locations in Missouri are participating, including:
• Arrow Rock Cemetery in Arrow Rock.
• Fort Leonard Wood Veterans Cemetery in Waynesville.
• Missouri's National Veterans Memorial in Perryville.
• Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
• Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville.
• Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville.
• Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Springfield.
• Saint James Veterans Home Cemetery in Saint James.
Those wishing to help can sponsor wreaths or sign up to place them online at wreathsacrossamerica.org.
Volunteer groups have done similar wreath-laying events around Jefferson City cemeteries to honor military veterans, most recently putting nearly 1,600 wreaths at graves in Jefferson City National Cemetery.
Noonan has been part of the delegation to the Governor's Office for the past few years but has been placing wreaths at Fort Leonard Wood Veterans Cemetery for several years.
Every headstone at the military base gets a wreath, she said.
"It's rewarding. Very rewarding," Noonan said.
"I think it's just the pride in our organization, our veterans, our military service," she continued. "I didn't retire from the military like Rick did and my husband did, but it's still a pride that you have because you are a veteran and you just continue doing and working as much as you can for the veterans."
Hirsch, who has placed wreaths at Arlington in the past, said he's been volunteering with Wreaths Across America since it began.
"It's a great honor to go out to the cemeteries and post wreaths," he said. "We do a lot of Veteran Day flags and stuff like that for the cemeteries. It's just a great honor for us to do that."
Eileen Wisniowicz/News Tribune photo: A wreath sits in the waiting room to be hung in Govenor Mike Parson's office on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. The wreath held flags of each branch of the military.
Eileen Wisniowicz/News Tribune photo: Govenor Mike Parson talks to Rose Noonan and Rick Hirsch as they present his office with a wreath for the National Wreaths Across American day on Dec. 13. Noonan and Hirsch both served in the Army and are volunteers with American Legion.
Eileen Wisniowicz/News Tribune photo: Rose Noonan stands by Rick Hirsch as he delivers a speech to Governor Mike Parson on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. Hirsch thanked Govenor Parson for allowing Noonan and Hirsch to present him with a wreath in honor of the upcoming National Wreaths Across America day on Dec. 17.
Eileen Wisniowicz/News Tribune photo: From left, Rose Noonan, Rick Hirsch and Govenor Mike Parson pose with a wreath holding flags from the branches of military on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. Noonan and Hirsch were volunteers from Wreaths Across America which works to remember, honor, and teach about veterans who have lost their lives.