Established seven years ago, the Memorial Day Flowers Foundation works with local organizers and volunteers to place flowers on gravesites at national, veterans, and local cemeteries. Through its first outreach in 2011, the group coordinated the donation of 10,000 stems at Arlington National Cemetery, outside of Washington, D.C. This year, the foundation coordinated 210,000 flowers at Arlington and 250,000 stems at 41 other U.S. cemeteries — a feat director Ramiro Peñaherrera credits to support from flower growers in the U.S. and abroad, wholesalers, transportation companies and an expanding roster of sponsors and community groups.
“It’s grown so much,” Peñaherrera said. “People are amazingly grateful.”
This year, the group also recruited 130 retailers — including barber shops and pet stores — to help hand out flowers to families and friends who wanted to honor a loved one. As in past years, Peñaherrera said this year’s effort was supported by CalFlowers, the California Association of Flower Growers & Shippers, Asocolflores, the government of Ecuador and dozens of industry partners. Also present at many of the events: Boy Scouts, who showed up in scores to volunteer and participate in the day’s events.