UPDATE: A friend of mine wrote some concerns on Facebook that I am minimizing this effort and concerned that my reporting will diminish the event in the future. First, if other organizations are involved than their names should be on the effort, not just the Mayor’s name. Additionally, there should be a pre set plan for when there are not enough wreaths for every grave that the same graves do not go without a wreath while others get one every year simply because they are buried closer to the road or because of who they were. Who is to say that one veteran or families sacrifice is more worthy of a wreath than another veteran or family?

President Ronald Reagan always said “trust but verify”. Last Christmas Mayor Burchett asked citizens, organizations and companies to donate dollars to place wreaths on veterans graves at Knoxville National off Tyson Street, the Veterans Cemetary off Lyons View Dr. and the new Veterans cemetary off John Sevier Hwy.

Last year, I accepted that it was a cause that would recognize all veterans. This year, the deadline was extended for monetary contributions indicating that money was slower in coming in. However, it was announced they reached the goal. Saturday was the day to place the wreaths. Yesterday the News Sentinel ran a story about a wreath on every grave.

As I sought to verify, I was outraged at what I found at the first national veterans cemetary built in Knoxville. If you accept Mayor Burchett’s window dressing from the road, it is a great display, unfortunately, when you go beyond the display, thousands of veterans are without wreaths on their graves.

Apparently, the money raised by the Mayor isn’t to honor all veterans.

But the Mayor got a donated wreath for his parents!