OTTUMWA, IOWA -- The Order of the Shield Honor Riders began their annual Christmas wreath laying cermony at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa on Saturday, followed by a special gift-giving.

Last Memorial Day, the riders began raising funds to buy Christmas gifts for veterans in five different nursing homes across three cities. And following the wreath ceremony today, they traveled to present those gifts.

The elderly veterans say it "changes the meaning of Christmas for them."    

Kim Bix is the head of the Honor Riders and is an Army Veteran. He described the special meaning of each of the ribbons on the wreath.

"All the blue and gold ribbons are ribbons that people have donated a dollar in order to help buy Christmas gifts. The red ribbons have a name of every [Iowa] veteran, man and woman, that has passed away since this war began in March of 2003. So we just want to put this wreath out here and let people see it and know what we're about, and try to get the community involved. And to realize that there are still men and women in harm's way, and we're still thinking about them," Bix said.

The wreath will be on display at the flag pole of the Bridge View Center through January 1st.

Bix expressed his thanks for the community support and the VFW, American Legion and JROTC for their involvment in Saturday's ceremony.