Thousands of wreaths placed on veterans’ headstones at Richmond National Cemetery

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Hundreds of volunteers visited Richmond National Cemetery on Saturday to pay their respects to our nation's fallen servicemen and women.

The ceremony on Dec. 13, part of the Wreaths Across America movement, aimed to honor those who serve, remember the fallen and teach future generations the value of freedom, according to organizers.

While reading aloud the veterans' names, volunteers placed thousands of Christmas wreaths at veterans' headstones.

Organizers said they and other sponsors have worked all year, scouting and fundraising to supply the wreaths.

8News spoke with the Lacks family, who are gifting one to their beloved Marine Corps Cpl. Cornelius Lacks. He died while serving in Vietnam.

Lacks's family remembers him as someone willing to drop everything to help someone in need.

"We don't feel like the season of Christmas comes around until we do this event. We welcome everybody out next year, same time, same place," Lacks's son, also named Cornelius Lacks, said.