With a record setting Jan. 20 temperature of a high of 25 degrees, almost 1,000 volunteers arrived when the temperature was 13 degrees to retire almost 50,000 wreaths that had been placed on every grave during December at Chattanooga National Cemetery.
It was so cold but as the wreaths were retired, the warm whispers of thank you for remembering from the graves of so many Chattanooga heroes laid to rest at Chattanooga National Cemetery put a lot of warmth in our efforts and we forgot the cold temperature. To everyone that helped on Saturday, thank you so very much for volunteering, each of you gave the greatest gift to these veterans that one may give-you gave yourself.
For 2024, the wreaths will remain at $10 and donations can be made by mail to Wreaths Across Chattanooga, 426 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402 or online at www.chattareaveterans.com/wac.
Captain Mickey McCamish, U. S. Navy (Retired)