This is a special time of year for all of us in the Miss-Lou and nation. It is a time of giving, sharing and remembering … a time to count our blessings.

One of those blessings is the freedom we enjoy as Americans. For more than two centuries those freedoms have been protected and preserved. That’s quite an accomplishment considering the enemies that have tried to take those freedoms from us.

However, thanks to our Armed Forces, we have repelled all enemies, including some of the most vile and determined foes. Our men and women in the various branches of the Armed Forces have sworn to go anywhere, anytime and do anything asked of them to protect us and our nation.

Here is that oath: “I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the regulations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

Thousands of those veterans are interred at the Natchez National Cemetery, a most beautiful and reverent resting place.

On Saturday, Dec. 14, many in the Miss-Lou will gather to pay homage to them, and lay a wreath on the graves of more than 800 buried there. That 800 is the number of wreaths individuals and organizations sponsored. While we will not “blanket” the cemetery, which has more than 8,000 graves, we will nonetheless create a beautiful memorial that will last through the holidays.

We welcome the public to join us for a brief ceremony followed by wreath-laying. We begin at 11 a.m. in the new section at the pavilion.

The Natchez National Cemetery is participating along with scores of other national cemeteries across the nation. Our Home With Heroes Foundation is proud to be the location coordinator for Natchez. If you need information, please call me at 601-442-0980.

Later that day, at 4 p.m., we will have a shorter ceremony at Greenlawn Memorial Park, where there will be wreath-laying as well.

So, please help us honor those who served us. It is what this season is all about.

Thanks and have a blessed season.

G. Mark LaFrancis, an Air Force retiree, is president of the Home With Heroes Foundation, a private, nonprofit helping and honoring veterans and their loved ones.