More than 3,000 wreaths have made their way from northern Maine to Iowa for Saturday's Wreaths Across America Ceremony.
A semi-truck filled with 3,265 wreaths arrived the Iowa Veterans Cemetery. Wreaths Across America Coordinator Patrick Palmersheim tells WHO-TV 13 the wreaths cost $47,000 and came from donations.
“I never dreamed in 2008 when I did the first wreath ceremony with seven wreaths that I would ever be trying to raise enough money to buy this many wreaths,” Palmersheim said.
The program is meant to honor both veterans and families during the holidays. Volunteer Driver Jane Orlanes delivered wreaths for the first time to the cemetery.
“My husband has passed away and he is burried here at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery," she told WHO-TV 13. "He was a veteran for seven years, served for seven years in the Navy and I really wanted to do this to just honor all veterans and to be able to bring the respect to them,” Orlanes says
At least 20 volunteers helped unload the truck on Thursday and prepare the wreaths for the ceremony on Saturday.
The Wreaths Across America Ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery. Volunteers and family members will lay the wreaths.
(Photo: WHO-TV)