Freshly placed wreathes
Jeff Eversole with Charlotte and Ray Adkins
Long rows of wreathes
Hixson Air Force Cadets at the grave of Charles Coolidge, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Some of the volunteers
Young helpers
Hamilton County Historian Linda Moss Mines called it a day of smiles, tears and shared memories. Dozens of volunteers gathered at the Chattanooga National Cemetery on Saturday to place some 30,000 wreaths on the hallowed hills.
Ms. Mines said the committee overseeing the local project hopes to have a wreath on each of the 50,000 graves in a few years.
Several individuals started the campaign in Chattanooga in 2006.
It was pouring rain as the distribution started but the downpour decreased to sprinkles and at times their was sunshine when the clouds began to break.
State Rep. Robin Smith said she was proud of Air Force Cadets from Hixson High School as they paid their respects to Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Charles H. Coolidge.
District 29 State Rep. Greg A. Vital said this is a way to remember the sacrifices that have been and continued to be made by our military. He said there are 2,500 cemeteries in 50 states with seven locations in Tennessee.