280,000 flowers and over 1,000 volunteers went to Arlington National Cemetery this year for Memorial Day weekend to honor those who bravely served our country.
The Memorial Day Flowers Foundation hosted its annual tradition of placing roses on grave sites in memory of the fallen. Floral and logistics companies came together for this important holiday to donate services as well as flowers, coordinating several Memorial Day Flower events around the U.S. This year, over 41 national cemetaries across the country received roses thanks to Memorial Day Flowers.
Hundreds of thousands of roses were donated by many wholesale flower companies in the U.S. and South America including Jet Fresh Flower Distributors and Jet Fresh Flower Growers, S.A. in Cotopaxi, Ecuador.
Ryan Black, marketing director of Jet Fresh Flower Distributors, returned to Arlington, VA. as a continuous member of the Memorial Day Flowers’ advisory board filming highlights from the emotional two-day event.
Day 1
On Sunday, volunteers from the sponsored companies unloaded cargo trucks filled with boxes of flowers, and prepared tote bags for the volunteers to carry through the cemetery.
Volunteers grabbed as many flowers as they could carry and walked through their assigned sections in cemeteries covering as many grave sites as possible. The Memorial Flower Foundation strives to put a flower on every national grave site as possible. In Arlington National Cemetery, alone, there are over 400,000 grave sites.
Day 2
On Monday, volunteers handed out complimentary roses on Memorial Day for the visitors coming into Arlington National Cemetery.
Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds came together to support those visiting loved ones. It was truly an emotional experience encountering those who are grieving — quickly reminding us why we all participate in this important organization. The flowers are mere gesture for the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Stones
The Girl Scouts of America hand-painted stones for the grave sites which do not receive flowers due to religious reasons so everyone can be honored.
Last Year’s Highlights
Check out the highlights from last year’s 2-day event at Arlington National Cemetary.
Jet Fresh Flower Distributors would like to thank all of the service men, women, and families, who have sacrificed (and are still sacrificing) everything for our freedom. To participate in the foundation or make a donation, please visit Memorial Day Flowers.
