Christmas at Louisville's Zachary Taylor National Cemetery means 6,000 wreaths for veterans

The Courier Journal
·1 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Veterans laid to rest in Louisville have not been forgotten this holiday season.

An estimated crowd of 1,000 people gathered Saturday, eight days before Christmas, to place nearly 6,000 wreaths atop graves at Louisville's Zachary Taylor National Cemetery. The ceremony was held in conjunction with National Wreaths Across America Day, which took place at cemeteries around the U.S.

Ellen Hildenbrand and her son, Simon, placed wreaths at gravesites. About a thousand volunteers teamed up to place 6000 wreaths at the graves of soldiers buried at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery on Saturday, December 17, 2022
Ellen Hildenbrand and her son, Simon, placed wreaths at gravesites. About a thousand volunteers teamed up to place 6000 wreaths at the graves of soldiers buried at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery on Saturday, December 17, 2022

The event was funded entirely by private and corporate donations, organizers said in a release, with Brownsboro Hardware & Paint matching 100 wreath sales ahead of the weekend ceremony.

Amicae Branch, Danielle Crawford and Onicka Williams placed wreaths at gravesites. About a thousand volunteers teamed up to place 6000 wreaths at the graves of soldiers buried at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery on Saturday, December 17, 2022
Amicae Branch, Danielle Crawford and Onicka Williams placed wreaths at gravesites. About a thousand volunteers teamed up to place 6000 wreaths at the graves of soldiers buried at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery on Saturday, December 17, 2022

Wreaths Across America was founded 15 years ago and aims to recognize veterans and teach future generations about their sacrifice. Someday, organizers said, they hope to raise enough money to place a wreath at each of the more than 11,000 graves at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, which is named after the U.S. president who grew up in Louisville.

Saturday headlines:Louisville dominates Cincinnati at Fenway Bowl to keep Keg of Nails

Read more:How to stay healthy and where to find a vaccine as the flu surges in Kentucky

Michael Williams, wife, Melissa, and son, Chase, 12, walk among the headstones after laying wreaths on Saturday. About a thousand volunteers teamed up to place 6000 wreaths at the graves of soldiers buried at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery on Saturday, December 17, 2022
Michael Williams, wife, Melissa, and son, Chase, 12, walk among the headstones after laying wreaths on Saturday. About a thousand volunteers teamed up to place 6000 wreaths at the graves of soldiers buried at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery on Saturday, December 17, 2022

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Zachary Taylor Cemetery honors veterans for Christmas