The deadline to sponsor a wreath in the campaign to place a memorial at every gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery has been extended to Dec. 11, according to officials at Wreaths Across America, the Maine-based group sponsoring the unprecedented effort.
The organization, in its 22nd year, hopes to place a wreath at every grave for the first time, about 235,000 total, on Dec. 13 as the Arlington site marks its 150th anniversary. Currently, the organization projects it may finish a bit short of its goal without a late push from donors.
“Current sponsorships are up 110 percent over last year at this time, but trending to finish near 160,000 wreaths or 70 percent of the total needed for Arlington,” the statement read.
The total is larger than the 143,000 wreaths that were placed on the headstones at Arlington last year, and the organization still plans to place wreaths in at least every section of the cemetery if it does not reach its original goal.
“Most of the wreaths are sponsored one at a time by people honoring a loved one, but we may need a knight on a white horse to get this done,” said Wayne Hanson, chairman of the Wreaths Across America Board.
More information for those looking to sponsor a wreath for Arlington can be found at WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.
• Mark Pace can be reached at mpace@washingtontimes.com.
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