Wreaths for Veterans getting ready for annual wreath placement day in Huntsville
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — This week, dozens of volunteers are hard at work getting thousands of Christmas wreaths ready to be placed on the gravesites of local veterans.
Wreaths for Veterans is an organization co-founded by Jennifer Hames. She said she was inspired to do something special for deceased veterans in her community, after watching the wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in 2006.
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"It just seemed like the right thing to do, it was just something that kind of hit my heart," Hames told News 19.
Since 2007, she has organized an army of dozens of volunteers that get the wreaths ready and later lay them in two local cemeteries.
Hames told News 19 that not only is it a way to honor veterans, but it gives their family members something to smile about when they visit gravesites over the holidays.
"We want to honor not only the deceased veterans, but their families, because whether anybody believes it or not, the family serves to," Hames said.
Throughout the years, the organization has increased the number of wreaths it lays.
This year, volunteers are preparing 4,000 artificial wreaths. They're preparing them Monday through Thursday of this week at the Lori Martin Huntsville City Schools Warehouse at 3015 12th Avenue SW in Huntsville.
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The group is working every day from 9:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and is still accepting new volunteers.
"We are always looking for volunteers, we will never turn you away," Hames told News 19. She encourages anyone who wants to help to simply show up.
The wreaths will be placed in the Military section of Valhalla Cemetery at 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The following day, Wednesday, Nov. 20 they will be placed at Maple Hill Cemetery at 10:00 a.m.
The wreaths will lay there through the holiday season and be collected on January 7 and 8.
If you would like additional information about volunteering for any of the events with Wreaths for Veterans, you can email Hames at organization is also accepting monetary donations to help with purchasing new wreaths and supplies. You can mail donations to Wreaths for Veterans at 210 Bell Road NE, Huntsville, AL 35811.
