'Labor of love': Volunteers lay 1,100 wreaths at Volusia Memorial Park

Ormond Beach and the surrounding communities gathered at 550 N. Nova Road to participate in Wreaths Across America on Saturday, Dec. 16.

  • By Paige Wilson
  • | 8:30 p.m. December 18, 2017
  • Ormond Beach Observer
  • Neighbors
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While Sherman Burres isn't a veteran himself, having a father and seven uncles who are has given him a passion for honoring and supporting military members. 

Burres is the vice president of Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter 8, which partnered with the Veterans Assistance Coalition and the local Vietnam Veterans chapter to hold the second-annual participation for Wreaths Across America at Volusia Memorial Park. 

About 200 volunteers from all around Central Florida gathered on Saturday, Dec. 16, to honor veterans by laying 1,100 wreaths at the site's graves.

"I'm just overjoyed," Burres said. "It's a labor of love. I started doing this a couple of years ago. We used to go to DeLand and place wreaths. A couple of us talked a little over two years ago about doing it here. We started it last year, and it's really grown."

Last year, 360 wreaths were placed, Burres said. A donation from the VAC helped make the jump to over 1,000 wreaths this year. 

Burres said Rolling Thunder is planning to fundraise as soon as the new year starts to increase the number of wreaths for next year.

Call Sherman Burres at 677-7398. Visit rollingthunderfl8.com or facebook.com/veteransassistancecoalition.

 

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