More than 13,000 wreaths were donated in 2019 adding up to nearly $150,000.
by Mary Francis Hoots
Video link https://www.wrcbtv.com/clip/14977977/wreaths-across-chattanooga-celebrates-record-breaking-year
Wreaths Across Chattanooga set new records for the 2019 Christmas season. More than 13,000 wreaths were placed on veterans graves at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Retired Navy Captain and coordinator of Wreaths Across Chattanooga, Mickey McCamish, told Channel 3, "We set another record this year; 13,284 wreaths were donated by Chattanoogans, by businesses in Chattanooga."
That adds up to nearly $150,000, a 30 percent increase in just one year.
On December 14, the community gathered to individually place those wreaths on veterans’ graves.
"It's important because they are Veterans.” McCamish said, “Because they have given, because they have protected the freedoms that we enjoy today."
Because of that, McCamish has bigger plans for 2020.
"But our goal, our mission, is really to cover every gravestone at Chattanooga National so that we don't have to make the decision of which gravestones we place the wreaths on and which ones do we have to pass up,” McCamish said.
He says just seeing the beauty of the wreaths lying out there gives him motivation to get to all 47,000 graves.
"You see how breathtaking it is. It serves as an inspiration, it serves as an incentive to make sure we cover every gravestone in Chattanooga National,” McCamish shared.
It's a great way to honor and remember those who fought for our freedom, and can serve as an opportunity to learn about the history of our country at war.
McCamish said, "It's also provides a teaching opportunity. A teaching opportunity for young people, or all of us really for that matter, of the greatest generations that exist and what they have to go through to protect us and give us the freedoms that we now have."
Wreaths Across America is matching all donations made up until January 15th. After just one day, they're already at 1,000 wreaths.
If you want to help out, the best way to do that right now is sending donations into 180 Hamm Road in Chattanooga.
