300K Graves at National Cemetery May Receive Flower for Memorial Day Thanks to ‘Patriotic’ Donors
by Amy Furr
It is possible each of the 300,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia now have a flower on its headstone as Americans observe Memorial Day.
When donors and the floral industry heard more flowers were needed for the special day, they quickly stepped up to help, Stars and Stripes reported Friday.
In addition, the Memorial Day Flowers Foundation asked this week for volunteers to help place them because they had more flowers than people to accomplish the task, according to the Military Times.
The outlet said Friday that the organization previously announced donations of flowers were at 80,000, a far cry from its 300,000 goal. However, that is when the numbers began to grow faster than ever.
Meanwhile, the foundation’s executive director Ramiro Penaherrera said in a release that the organization needed the extra hands on Sunday to help with distribution.
“You are needed to visit gravesites throughout the cemetery and place flowers. This is an excellent way to honor our fallen troops and veterans for Memorial Day,” he added.
In a social media post on Saturday morning, the foundation said volunteers were helping to unpack the flowers for the cemetery along with a photo of numerous boxes: