Volunteers Place 7,000 Wreaths at Roseburg National Cemetery to Honor Veterans

Shane from the Roseburg Plug visits the Roseburg National Cemetery covering the event. Watch the video below.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. Quiet moments of remembrance filled Roseburg National Cemetery this weekend as thousands of volunteers gathered for the John Pierson Memorial Wreaths Across America Ceremony, an annual event dedicated to honoring veterans laid to rest in Douglas County.

As wreaths were carried from box to hand and from hand to headstone, the scale and meaning of the moment became clear. More than 7,000 wreaths were placed throughout the cemetery, each one marking the grave of a veteran who served.

In partnership with The Roseburg Plug, Shane was on scene documenting the event as volunteers moved methodically through rows of headstones, pausing at each grave. As part of the ceremony, participants were asked to say each veteran’s name out loud, a simple but powerful tradition meant to ensure no one is remembered as just a number.

Families, veterans, and community members stood side by side, sharing in the responsibility of remembrance. There were no speeches or fanfare in many moments, just quiet action. One wreath at a time. One name at a time.

The local ceremony is part of the national Wreaths Across America mission, a nonprofit effort that began in 2007 with a focus to Remember, Honor, and Teach. What started as a small initiative in Maine has grown into a nationwide movement, with thousands of participating locations each December.

Douglas County’s event carries special significance, as it is dedicated to the memory of John Pierson, a local veteran and longtime advocate for honoring service members. Pierson’s commitment to ensuring veterans were remembered with dignity helped strengthen and expand the local ceremony, which now bears his name in tribute to his legacy.

This year’s event once again reflected that dedication, with volunteers moving deliberately and respectfully through the grounds, placing each wreath with care. While each wreath is a small gesture on its own, together they represent the lives, service, and sacrifices of those who served.

From the Roseburg National Cemetery, the ceremony stood as a reminder that remembrance is not just something spoken. It is something done.