Volunteers place more than 245,000 wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery

Wreaths rest against headstones at Arlington National Cemetery as Wreaths Across America places remembrance wreaths on headstones at the cemetery in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

ARLINGTON, Va. -- A huge number of volunteers are placing wreaths on tombstones at Arlington National Cemetery.

WTOP-FM reports the annual event drew a large crowd Saturday, with more than 245,000 wreaths placed at grave sites.

The Wreaths Across America caravan traveled earlier this month from Columbia Falls, Maine, where the wreaths were made. The caravan went through several states before arriving in Arlington.

Great teamwork on display today at @wreathsacross Thankful for the thousands of volunteers who honored the over 400,000 buried at @arlingtonnatl (about the size 472 football fields). Proud of our players who were part of it #WAA2017 #RememberHonorTeach #WreathsacrossAmerica #🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/kxrLNK8VlW
— John Tillman (@CoachTillman1) December 16, 2017

The grand marshals are Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient Roger Donlon and his wife, Norma Donlon.

The tradition began when Maine wreath maker Morrill Worcester donated 5,000 wreaths to Arlington Cemetery. A total of 1.2 million wreaths will be placed on markers across the country in 1,238 locations.

Thank you to the more than 75k volunteers who braved the cold weather and heavy traffic to help #HonorThem during @WreathsAcross America Day at #ArlingtonNationalCemetery!

Find more photos at https://t.co/plMvd0MPmE. #WAA2017 pic.twitter.com/1hUHF3QF0u
— Arlington Cemetery (@ArlingtonNatl) December 17, 2017