JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Americans will lay 2.7 million wreaths in 3700 VA cemeteries plus at sea and abroad for National Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, December 17. Servicemen and women, from the Revolutionary War to present day, will be recognized for the sacrifices made for the cause of American Democratic Freedom.
The tradition began in 1992 when Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, found himself surrounded by a surplus of holiday wreaths. Reflecting back on memories of a trip to Washington D.C.’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as a 12-year-old paper boy, he decided to honor America’s veterans by placing wreaths at the tombstones of the fallen in the Arlington National Cemetery. Worcester said that he realized that his good fortune was due in part to American values and freedoms protected by the sacrifices of those in uniform.
The gesture remained a quiet tradition for family and friends to Remember fallen U.S. Veterans; Honor those who serve; And teach children the value of freedom!, until a Pentagon photographer serendipitously captured a picture that ultimately went viral.
Inundated with thank you’s and requests to emulate the Arlington project at national and state cemeteries, a movement in accordance with the gesture of placing the wreaths was born.
With the annual event today designated by the US Senate as National Wreaths Across America Day, over 300 carriers transporting over 500 truckloads of wreaths will gather volunteers of all ages and sizes to place a Christmas wreath on a Veteran’s tombstones. To date, Wreaths Across America’s annual pilgrimage from Harrington, Maine to the Arlington National Cemetery has become known as the world’s largest Veterans’ parade. Wreaths tally at over 3700 locations with quite a few in Florida. Local coordination is essential for the inclusion of local veterans in the Wreaths Across America Ceremonies.
Joe Regan, Military Outreach Director for Wreaths Across America, says that some of the volunteers aren’t even old enough to vote.
“Generally over half of our volunteers are under the age of 18, so we see it as a wonderful opportunty for our youth to show their respect for not only those that have fallen but those Veterans who are still living in our community, " he said.
The cost of placing a single wreath is 15-dollars.
Regan described the gesture of honoring Veterans as a gesture of honoring friends.
“As a Veteran, these headstones - these wreaths - these are not strangers,” he continued. “In many instances these are friends. These are men and women whom I served with and lead in the U.S. Army during my service. So it is incredibly meaningful to know that these men and women will be remembered. And not just for their deaths, but fot the lives that they lived.”
The U.S. Army Veteran admitted that final picture of a wreath on each tombstone is powerful as it relays a message of love of country which remains the driving force behind the work of Wreaths Across America. He said that he, along with the organization, encourages everyone to get involved as a community to acknowledge the appreciation behind the sacrifices made to live in country born of the free and home of the brave.
So, what began more than three decades as a pilgrimage by Morrill Worcester, in a single truck to deliver wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery as a gesture of thanks to those in uniform, has evolved into a national gesture to Remember, Honor and Teach.
Remember our fallen US Veterans.
Honor those who serve.
And teach children the value of freedom!
While coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies every December on National Wreaths Across America Day, the organization - Wreaths Across America work diligently throughout the year to remember, honor and teach the historic meaning behind the true cost of American Freedom.
For more information hon how you can donate and/or participate go to: https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/