More than 50 members of the Texas Rangers baseball staff went to the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery on Friday to helped beautify the cemetery as it prepares for is Veterans Day program.
“We are extremely grateful for these volunteers’ help,” said cemetery director Larry Williams. “This cemetery is a national shrine and we appreciate all the help we get from our community.”
Karin Morris, president of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, said that the baseball team has developed an important relationship with the Veteran community and are appreciative of the opportunity to help. “While many of our fans see our players as heroes, the real heroes are here in this cemetery,” she said.
Navy Veteran Shannon Abbott, who works in the Rangers Human Resources Department, was one of the first to arrive. “It’s important for us Vets to stick together and help each other out. We want to make this place as beautiful as possible,” she said. “It’s the least we can do to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
The group washed gravestone markers, placed mulch on the nearby trees, cleaned the gardens, and edged the lawns and swept the entire area before leaving. A number of them later visited graves of loved ones buried at the cemetery.
Texas Rangers photographer Kelly Gavin shared the images below.
[carousel ids=”23966,23965,23964,23963″]About the author: Ozzie Garza is director of the VA Office of Public Affairs regional office in Dallas, Texas.
To find Veterans Day ceremonies in your area, visit our Veterans Day: Ceremonies and events page here on Vantage Point
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Thank You. My fathers gave is there. LTC Charles L Hale veteran of WW2, Korea and SE Asia. I appreciate your support for our veterans and their families.
COL John C. Hale
US Army South
Thank You!
As an Army Veteran retired, I do appreciate what they are doing but please tell me the stones were cleaned with proper brushes and cleaning agents and under the guidance of a preservationist so as not to damge the headstones. Doing it wrong can do more damage than good long term. Thank you.
I wish to send a big thank you to these folks my daddy lays rest there and this makes me so proud and happy to know they do this