SUFFOLK, Va. — A Suffolk nonprofit is in need of donations to lay more than 13,000 wreaths on the graves of veterans at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery.
Every third weekend in December, hundreds of volunteers help lay the evergreen wreaths in honor of our military heroes and their families.
Michael Yarbrough, the Horton Wreath Society's president, said last year they placed more than 12,000 and this year they expect to place over 13,000.
While the group has been doing this for the last 16 years, Yarbrough said the number grows by about a thousand each year.
He said while they do this to remember our veterans, with about a month out until this year's event they're about $10,000 short of paying off the wreaths they've ordered.
"So it's hard each year to continuously gain the money that we need in order to buy or purchase that amount of wreaths," Yarbrough said. "Thirteen thousand wreaths is quite a lot and it's quite a bit of money but we're going to keep at it."
The organization still only collects donations by mail but is working to begin an electronic way of collecting donations before next year's event.
The cost for wreaths have also gone up according to the group.
Donations can be sent to the Horton Wreath Society at PO Box 6246 Virginia Beach, Va 23456-0246.
Wreaths will be laid this year on Dec. 16.
Gail Brown has been visiting the cemetery for more than ten years to visit her family members and her husband.
"My dad is down by the gate and my sister in law is near the very first section," Brown said.
She was placing new flowers at their graves on Tuesday after not being able to make it this past weekend.
"I couldn't get here on Veterans Day it came so quickly," Brown said.
She said past Veterans Day the third weekend in December is always a time to look foward to being at the cemetery because of the wreaths.
"It's just beautiful, one needs to come out and just see how many veterans are in this cemetery and to see the beautfiul wreaths that the Horton Wreaths Society puts out here for Christmas to remember our veterans," Brown said.
She said the wreaths really do touch the hearts of families and loved ones who visit those veterans during the holidays.
"Give to the Horton Wreath Society," Brown said. "We know that there are many organizations out there right now seeking money but it's important to remember our veterans."
