Today, Team Burchett for Wreaths Across America fundraising topped $20,000, thanks to a generous $5,000 donation from Priority Ambulance.

“Veterans hold a special place in my heart,” said Priority Ambulance CEO Bryan Gibson. “Priority Ambulance is pleased to support Mayor Burchett’s campaign to honor our fallen heroes at the more than 6,000 gravesites of veterans in Knox County.”

“The support from individuals and the corporate community during this effort has been outstanding, and I want to especially thank Priority Ambulance for their contribution in honor of East Tennessee’s fallen veterans,” said Mayor Burchett.

Since Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett launched his local Wreaths Across America team early last week, many East Tennesseans have showed appreciation for our fallen veterans by sponsoring wreaths.  The wreaths, made of live greenery, will be placed atop veterans’ graves on Dec. 14 at the East Tennessee State Veteran Cemetery locations on Lyons View Pike and Gov. John Sevier Highway.  The wreath sponsorship cutoff deadline is today.

In all, enough money has been raised to place just more than 2,000 wreaths.  However, there are 6,200 veterans buried at the two East Tennessee State Veteran Cemetery locations in Knox County, so even more sponsorships are needed – and time is running out. A $15 sponsorship pays for a wreath made of live greenery to be placed on veterans’ graves.  Anyone wanting to sponsor a wreath can do so by visiting http://www.knoxcounty.org/vets. The organization is also offering a “three-for-two” sponsorship special, which means they will donate a wreath for every two that are sponsored.

Visit http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org for more information about the organization.

Priority Ambulance is a new non-emergency ambulance service coming to East Tennessee next year.