SARASOTA, Fla. -- Haley Hutchins visits her dad’s grave site for the first time: "I still can't believe he's here." The 40-year-old died in June.
His name was James Hutchins Jr, a Marine for four years and "was proud of being a Marine," she said.
This will be the 18-year-old's first Christmas without her dad.
“You’d think he like a wreath,” she asks. Her mom says, “Yeah.”
Hutchins will be placing a wreath on her dad’s tombstone Dec. 15, thanks to Wreaths Across America.
“A lot of people here died during war…they died serving and they weren’t able to celebrate to be with their families,” Hutchins said.
About 13,500 Christmas wreaths will be placed on veterans’ tombstones at the Sarasota National Cemetery. Yet until two days ago, Sarasota was short 1,500 wreaths, but the community stepped up to cover the $15 cost for each one.
“You don’t have to have a loved one buried in one of these cemeteries to sponsor or donate a wreath,” says Meshia Richardson with Wreaths Across America Sarasota.
Richardson started the wreath program in Sarasota three years ago after burying her husband, a U.S. Navy veteran, at the Sarasota National Cemetery. Since then, the number of veterans buried has doubled, averaging 10 burials a day, according to the cemetery’s administrator.
Richardson says more wreaths will be needed next year but this Christmas, other cemeteries in the bay area need your help.
“Bay Pines is in need of 33,000 wreaths, Bushnell needs 30,000 wreaths … neither have met that goal or even come close," Richardson said.
The deadline for buying and ordering the wreaths is Dec 3.
Hutchins hopes the communities open their hearts for those who gave their all. She says: “They sacrificed the holidays for us it would be right to sacrifice a couple of bucks for them."
Each wreath on a veteran’s tombstone is a gift of thanks.
“Their sacrifices aren’t forgotten,” Hutchins said.
On Dec. 15, a caravan of three semis and 350 motorcyclists will escort the wreaths to the Sarasota National Cemetery. The wreath laying ceremony by family members, sponsors and volunteers start at 10 a.m.
Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell (needs 30,000 wreaths):
Bay Pines National Cemetery (needs 33,000 wreaths):
Sarasota’s Wreaths Across America Event Information:
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