People from all over the community attended a special paint session at Painting with a Twist in Harker Heights to help honor fallen veterans.
The Friends of Central Texas State Veteran's Cemetery hosted the painting event to help raise funds for wreaths which the group plans to lay on the graves of deceased veterans.
Hillary Shine is on the organization's executive board. She said wreaths will be laid on their graves of thousands of veterans at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery.
"We, as a community, decided to stand up and show our support for veterans in death as in life," Shine said. "This year, almost eight thousand [wreaths will be laid.]"
Shine said each grave at the veteran cemetery will be honored.
"Every penny that's raised is going toward those wreaths and the supplies necessary to lay them," she said. "No grave will go unvisited during the holiday -- and that's what this is all about."
Miriah Knapp is a senior artist at Painting with a Twist and she said she was honored to be a part of the event.
"Not only am I sharing my artistic abilities with everybody, but I'm also contributing to the men and women who've given their lives to defend our county," Knapp said. "It brings joy knowing that we're able to share at an event like this and create beautiful pieces of artwork to put in the world to bring happiness."
Shine said now that the group has raised funds, the organization is focusing on getting the wreaths ready.
"What we really need is on the 19th, for folks to show up at the Special Events Center in Killeen, at 10 a.m. and help us prepare all of those wreaths," Shine said. "I just think it's the most beautiful tribute that a community could give to veterans in particular."
There will be a wreath laying ceremony on November 26th at the cemetery. Shine suggests that anyone who wants to attend take the park-and-ride service available through Texas A&M University.
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