The city Department of Parks and Recreation has met its goal of collecting 50,000 fresh lei needed for placement on the graves of veterans at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl and state veterans cemeteries on Memorial Day.

As of last night, flower-bearing benefactors from around the state had donated 50,272 lei for the annual commemoration, said Gail Haraguchi, the department's deputy director.

Donations of lei will continue to be accepted this morning at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. The 60th annual Mayor's Memorial Day Ceremony will be held there at 8:30 a.m. Monday.