LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The annual 'Wreaths Across America' campaign started Wednesday, with a mission to place a holiday wreath on all veteran graves at national cemeteries, including Louisville's Zachary Taylor Cemetery.

A ceremony was held late Wednesday morning at Brownsboro Hardware and Paint across from the site of the new Veterans Administration hospital. It was attended by Louisville Metro Councilwoman Paula McCraney and representatives from the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, along with a color guard with fife and drums. 

Wreaths Across America ceremony at Brownsboro Hardware and Paint

Pictured: this image grab taken from video shows a ceremony with members of Wreaths Across America outside Brownsboro Hardware and Paint in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 1, 2023. The nonprofit hopes to raise enough money to place a wreath on every veteran's grave at Zachary Taylor Cemetery. (WDRB image)

During the ceremony, the first wreath of the season was presented to a family member of a veteran buried at Zachary Taylor Cemetery. Last year the organization placed nearly 6,000 wreaths at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery. It was the largest number of wreaths ever placed there. The cemetery has more than 11,000 gravesites, so at least 5,000 graves weren't able to be decorated. 

That's something Wreaths Across America wants to change by finding more people to sponsor wreaths. 

Susan Kalmey, with Daughters of the American Revolution and Doug Carroll, the owner of Brownsboro Hardware and Paint joined WDRB Mornings Wednesday to explain how you can help the organization continue its mission in all 50 states. 

"Anyone in the community can sponsor one of these wreaths -- or more -- for $17," Kalmey said. 

Carroll said it was an easy choice for his stores to become involved three years ago. 

"We like to try to support local things around us, and Zachary Taylor, it was just an obvious choice," Carroll said.  "Three years into it we realize how important this is to the community, to the veterans, to the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. So we wanted to help them get to this goal of 11,000 wreaths, because I never realized there was that many gravestones in Zachary Taylor." 

Volunteers are also welcome. Find out more by visiting LouKYWreaths.org or either of Brownsboro Hardware & Paint's two locations. 

The fundraising effort will continue through the end of November, at which time the live Main Balsam Wreaths will be ordered and shipped. 

This year's wreath-laying ceremony is set for Dec. 16. 

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