NATCHEZ — Last Christmas, more than 600 graves of local veterans were adorned with holiday wreaths honoring their sacrifice, and this year Wreaths Across America organizers are hoping that number increases.

With just more than a week until the deadline, U.S. Air Force veteran and Wreaths Across America coordinator Oscar Seyfarth said only approximately 200 wreaths have been purchased.

“I am really hoping we can get a push for the rest (of the wreaths),” she said.

Wreaths Across American is a nonprofit organization that coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at national cemeteries across the nation.

The wreaths are made in Maine and shipped all across the country by truck companies and drivers that volunteer their services.

Seyfarth said it is important to remember the sacrifices of America’s servicemen and women every day of the year, not just at the holidays.

“We’re all guilty of that,” he said. “But we have to think why do we have these holidays? Because of all those headstones with veterans’ names on them.”

The Wreaths Across America ceremony will be at 11 a.m. Dec. 15 in the Natchez National Cemetery.

A motorcycle caravan will leave the Walmart parking lot at 10:30 a.m. and drive to the cemetery.

Anyone wishing to purchase a wreath for $15 should contact Seyfarth at 601-807-1576 by Nov. 30. Wreaths can be ordered for the graves of veterans who are not buried in the national cemetery.

Wreaths can also be purchased at wreathsacrossamerica.org. The deadline for online orders is Monday.

Wreaths can be designated for a specific grave if they are ordered directly from Seyfarth.

The Adams County Board of Supervisors donated $1,000 to Wreaths Across America Monday, which Seyfarth said will pay for 66 wreaths.

Seyfarth said he also has commitments from a couple of local businesses for donations and is hoping more come in this week.

“This should be important to the community because we must remember the cost of freedom and the people who have fought and are fighting these wars and giving their lives so the rest of us can enjoy our lives,” Seyfarth said.