Brownsboro Hardware & Paint Customers Rally to Fund 11,400 Wreaths for Veterans in Louisville
For the second consecutive year, a locally driven fundraising effort ensured that every veteran laid to rest at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery was honored with a wreath during the Wreaths Across America ceremony in Louisville — a result made possible through sustained community support and coordination led by Brownsboro Hardware & Paint.
More than 11,400 Maine balsam wreaths were placed on veterans’ graves on Saturday, December 13, following a brief noon ceremony attended by more than 1,500 volunteers. The effort marked the second year that private fundraising covered every grave at the cemetery, with no federal funding involved.
Both locations of Brownsboro Hardware & Paint again served as collection points for donations, helping organize the sponsorship of all wreaths while also supporting a broader community communications effort to drive participation. Customers contributed at multiple levels, sponsoring individual wreaths at $17 each or purchasing them in larger quantities to help close the funding gap.
“This event brought together people of all ages who wanted to honor the men and women who served our country,” said Dr. Scott Giltner, location coordinator for the Gov. Isaac Shelby Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. “The turnout and participation were a powerful reflection of this community’s respect for our veterans.”
Doug Carroll, owner of Brownsboro Hardware & Paint, pointed to the consistency of customer support as a defining element of the effort’s success.
“Our customers and neighbors once again stepped up in a big way,” Carroll said. “We had customers come into our stores and buy one, two, five or 100 wreaths at $17.00 each. We are proud to support this effort and grateful to be part of a community that truly values and remembers those who have served.”
As volunteers placed wreaths throughout the cemetery, they were encouraged to speak each veteran’s name aloud — a tradition emphasized by organizers as a way to personalize remembrance.
“Speaking the name ensures that the veteran is remembered,” said Susan Kalmey, co-location coordinator with the Daughters of the American Revolution. “It’s a simple but deeply meaningful act of gratitude.”
The Louisville ceremony was part of the national Wreaths Across America program, which was founded in 2007 with the mission to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach future generations about the value of freedom. In 2024, the organization placed more than three million wreaths at more than 5,200 locations nationwide.
