Memorial Day Flowers Initiative Expands

[WillieeArmellini]

Memorial Day Flowers Initiative Expands
Once again, CalFlowers was a platinum sponsor for this year’s Memorial Day
Flowers initiative, supporting an expanding effort to honor the sacrifices made by
America’s military men and women.
The initiative began in 2011, after U.S. citizens working in the flower industry
formed the Memorial Day Flowers Foundation, (MDFF). That year, the Foundation
placed 10,000 roses at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day.
This year, the Foundation organized the headstone placement of 210,000 flowers at
Arlington and 250,000 stems at 41 other U.S. cemeteries. In addition, 130 retailers
gave roses to their communities to honor those who have served.
CalFlowers was also the event organizer at the San Francisco and Miramar National
Cemeteries this year.
At San Francisco National Cemetery, Mt. Eden supplied logistic support,
and Recology sponsored the placement of 26,404 flowers—every headstone at
SFNC—organizing 200 volunteers. LinkedIn, Google and Cisco also sent volunteers.
At Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, CalFlowers coordinated 300
volunteers—including several from Wells Fargo and Hyatt Hotels; 200 girl and boy
scouts—in laying the flowers and clean up efforts. Scouts received patches and
service hours for their work.
The following sponsors donated more than 13,500 flowers: Above All Flowers, LLC,
Dramm & Echter, Sunrise Flowers, Green Valley Flowers Wholesale, and Florexpo
Three congressmen attended, and two news crews—KUSI and NBC—covered the
event.
“As Miramar is currently interring heroes from recent conflicts, we were moved by
the tributes brought by families and friends—photos, letters, and other special
objects,” says Mike Mooney, board member for CalFlowers. “It was especially
gratifying to see that the flowers we placed were often incorporated into these
tributes.”
“We see the impact that placing a flower makes on an individual, says Michael
LoBue, CEO for CalFlowers. “That gesture provides a unique opportunity for an
individual to reflect, respect and pay tribute to someone who helped make the life
they know possible,” says LoBue. “We plan to build on this growing interest to
revive a tradition begun during the Civil War of placing flowers on the graves of our
soldiers to remember and honor their sacrifice.”
Participating cemeteries in 2018 included:
• Arlington National Cemetery (Virginia)
• Beaufort National Cemetery (South Carolina)
• Central Maine Veterans Cemetery
• Fort Custer National Cemetery (Michigan)
• Fort Snelling National Cemetery (Minnesota)
• Houston National Cemetery (Texas)
• Jacksonville National Cemetery (Florida)
• Lancaster Cemetery (Pennsylvania)
• Long Island National Cemetery (New York)
• Miramar National Cemetery (California)
• National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona
• New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery
• Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery
• Sacramento Valley National Cemetery (California)
• San Francisco National Cemetery (California)
• South Florida National Cemetery
• Washington Crossing National Cemetery (Pennsylvania)
More information is available at http://www.memorialdayflowers.org,

[Author]

Posts