‘Wreaths Across America’ short thousands of honor wreaths

– Each holiday season, volunteers place thousands of wreaths at the graves of our nation’s veterans, from Arlington National Cemetery, to the cemeteries here in the Tampa Bay area.

The idea came from Ansted Middle School students watching the story on a news station as a part of a class and student council members wanting to make a difference. Volunteers are still needed to lay the 230,000 wreaths.

Students will be at the parade in Ansted on Saturday set up in front of the V.F.W. Post taking donations. In the early 90s, when he had an excess of wreaths, he sent them to Arlington.

“Last week, we put out that cry for help”, says Amber Caron with Wreaths Across America of the social media plea thousands shared on Facebook and Twitter.

He and his wife Ann have been laying wreaths at Arlington for years. Founder Morrill Worcester, owner of a wreath-making company in Virginia, had started the project when he discovered his carpenters had purchased too many Christmas wreaths that year.

Hanson is on the Board Chair of Wreaths Across America.

It’s an annual tradition that may fall short this year. The non-profit group that spearheads the effort, ‘Wreaths Across America, ‘ is wrapping up its fundraising effort today but is still in great need of donations.

“When they lay that wreath, see the stone, means something…Read the name”.

“We never want to go backwards…its not a stagnant cemetery, said Wayne”.

“Arlington buries 25 to 30 people a day”.

“A father asked, what about my son?”

For more information on how to donate, head to the Wreaths Across America website to search for a location near you.