Fort Smith To Honor Veterans With Christmas Honor Program

Nov. 23--Army veteran and Fort Smith native George Goins has witnessed a lifetime of memorable visions, but it's when he sees Christmas wreaths covering the graves at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith that he feels the most moved.

Each year, the 73-year-old El Paso, Texas, resident attends the Fort Smith Christmas Honors program at the cemetery, and each year, Goins feels as if it's his first time to be a part of the veteran-honoring tradition. The images and sounds of the event's service-branch salute, the nationwide heroes tribute and the private family wreath-laying session are, in his words, "powerful, important and unforgettable."

"I get to wear my uniform to represent the Army to the ceremony, and the ceremony is important because it means a lot to people who have people buried at the U.S. National Cemetery," said Goins, a retired master sergeant since 1980. "All of the Goinses in U.S. National Cemetery, we're all related. Some are spelled 'Goins' and some are spelled 'Goines,' and there's about 10 of them there.

"And I have to give (event coordinator) Philip Merry and the Fort Smith community credit," he added. "The people who participate, it's unreal. That first year, in 2010, it blew my mind to see everyone -- young people, motorcycle clubs, everybody -- participate."

This year's ceremony will begin at 10:15 a.m.Dec. 13 at the cemetery, 522 S. Sixth St., with a service branch salute, private family wreath-laying time and a nationwide heroes tribute scheduled, said Merry. As many as 1,700 area residents and visitors are expected to attend to pay respect to veterans and show support for living family members and friends, he said.

"We know that the combined efforts of the hundreds of volunteers, school students and local civic groups will make the fifth year of Christmas Honors a success," Merry said.

Goins said he plans to attend and that he will not be alone. He and his relatives usually caravan from the Tulsa area to Fort Smith to attend.

"This year, I'll have my grandson, Sean, and my daughter, Sandra, as well as my 92-year-old aunt, Eva," Goins said. "My aunt always goes with me."

Goins laughed.

"I remember how bitterly cold the weather was at the Christmas Honors thing last year," he said. "Guess what? My aunt, she was right there with me."

One of George Goins' closest friends, Monsignor Patrick Gaalaas of Tulsa, also rode with the Goins family to Fort Smith.

"I took Monsignor Patrick to every single one of my relatives' graves, and he prayed over and blessed each and every grave," Goins said.

For Goins, seeing how quickly participants place more than 14,000 wreaths on the graves is a surreal experience.

"It's just amazing how that takes no time, and the people of Fort Smith and the surrounding communities are responsible for that," said Goins, who remains politely tight-lipped about his experiences during the Vietnam War. "It's very emotional to see."

Merry agreed.

"Officer Goins always comes here to represent the Army, and that's a big deal, as it should be," he said. "This is a grassroots thing, and there's scores and scores of $50 checks being donated to support this, while some give $500. One lady from Naples, Fla., just sent $2,000, and I got a check for $200 from a friend in Chicago. The Christmas Honors program is really touching people."

This year's program also will include a Wreath Assembly Workshop for volunteers from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Dec. 12 at the Fort Smith Convention Center, 55 S. Seventh St. Those wishing to volunteer can show up to help, Merry said.

"During the ceremony on Dec. 13, we'll say, 'Fort Smith, do your thing,' and then in nine minutes and 45 seconds, you'll see 14,600 wreaths go up," he said. "It's like watching one of those photography, camera-speed transformations of a rose that closes and then opens up. It's very touching for Christmas."

Goins predicted that everyone who attends this year's ceremony will realize its importance.

"As far as I know, that cemetery in Fort Smith is the only cemetery where there's a wreath on every grave," he said. "If that cemetery isn't the only one, I bet there aren't many other cemeteries that have that."

Goins said he plans on attending the Christmas Honors program each year.

"I'll be buried there in that cemetery in Fort Smith someday, but I hope that it's not for a very long time," he said. "When I am buried there, I hope they still do the Christmas Honors program, and I hope my kids and grandkids will still be able to come visit me at the cemetery."

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