The deadline for ordering a wreath from Wreaths Across America is Monday, Nov. 29. The wreaths are a tradition to honor a loved one who served in the Armed Forces.

A ceremony for Wreaths Across America will be held at more than 600 locations across the United States at the same hour on Saturday, Dec. 10, with the event to take place at 10 a.m. at the Fort Bayard National Cemetery.

The 2011 theme of “The Christmas They Never Had,” was chosen in honor of those who had to spend a holiday away from loved ones, and in memory of those who never made it home, according to Wreaths Across America's website, www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Wreaths Across America is a non-profit organization, whose mission is to remember, honor and teach. The group formed to continue and expand the annual wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman, Morrill Worcester, in 1992.

An El Paso resident, Ron Groves, had been volunteering and planning the event each year for Fort Bayard, but was unable to this year.

Gold Star Mother, Mary Cowan, who lost her son Aaron in Korea in 2005, came forward to keep the tradition going. But, as she said: “A veteran should really be doing this.” She made some phone calls to veterans, and Armando Amador, president of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 358 stepped forward to serve as master of ceremonies for the event. He will be assisted by Robert Lopez of the Gaffney-Oglesby Marine Corps Detachment 1328.

Again performing at the ceremony will be volunteer singers from the Hi Lo Silvers, a women's singing group, of which Cowan is a member.

The Worcester Wreath Company of Maine donates the wreaths more than 30,000 of them to groups at each state capitol and to national cemeteries and other cemeteries across the nation.

“A holiday is when veterans deserve to be recognized, and how better to do so than with a fresh green wreath with a red bow,” Cowan said.