Fort Jackson wreath tradition missing one thing: the wreaths

Hundreds of volunteers who showed up on Saturday at Fort Jackson to lay wreaths on the tombstones of veterans found themselves empty handed.

The event was more than 1,300 wreaths short — and the cemetery wasn’t notified the shortage until it was too late, according to WLTX.

Wreaths Across America, the organization that provides them, told the station there was a technology failure that led to shipping errors. Some cemeteries got too many wreaths, while others didn’t get enough.

Carol Davis, the cemetery’s ceremony organizer, told the event’s attendees that “to say I’m upset is putting it mildly,” according to WIS.

The station reported a Wreaths Across America staffer said the organization planned to send additional wreaths this week or offer credit toward next year’s to those cemeteries that were shorted.

For Fort Jackson, the wreaths already are on their way and should arrive by Thursday, WIS reported. At Arlington National Cemetery, the event took place without issues, according to the Associated Press.

The tradition began when Maine wreath maker Morrill Worcester donated 5,000 wreaths to Arlington Cemetery. A total of 1.2 million wreaths will be placed on markers across the country in 1,238 locations.

This story was originally published December 18, 2017 at 9:42 AM with the headline "Fort Jackson wreath tradition missing one thing: the wreaths."