NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - One week ago, Wreaths Across America was at only half their goal to get Christmas wreaths for all veterans headstones at the Arkansas State Veterans cemetery. By Monday though they made a huge comeback, reaching their goal of nearly $77,000 in donations. The final donations for the wreaths are all thanks to First Arkansas Bank and Trust.
According to Angela Beason with Arkansas Run for the Fallen, picking which veteran gets a wreath recognizing their service is a choice no one wants to make.
“A mom leaned over and said, 'Do you think there will be enough wreaths for my son?' And I assured her there would be but I wasn't sure,” said Beason.
For the past two years, Wreaths Across America and Run for the Fallen have tried raising money to cover all headstones with a wreath at the Arkansas State Veterans cemetery. On the first year they raised enough money for about 200 wreaths while on the second year they raised enough for 4000 wreaths.
It wasn't until this year that they were finally able to cover all 5,100 headstones at the cemetery with a last minute donation of $16,000 from First Arkansas Bank and Trust.
Chelsey Marsh's husband is buried at the cemetery, “who’s to say this person is more deserving than this person.”
"Who's to say this person is more deserving than this person," said Chelsey Marsh, whose husband is buried at the cemetery.
She said it's important to not just remember her hero but everyone's hero. She said she thinks that the moment you don't say their name anymore is the moment they're no longer remembered.
For Pam Wassom, the wreaths symbolize remembrance.
"One of the worst things we can do is to not remember their sacrifice and what they're done for our country," Wassom said.
Come Christmas, every veteran will be able to be remembered with a wreath on their headstone.
If you would like to help with the wreath laying ceremony on December 17th, you can find how by clicking here.