I was so happy to see a wreath from this great organization at my father's grave just a few days ago. Usually I'm the maintenance manager for his grave and I visit consistently. Clean up several times throughout the year and always change the flowers to match the current season.
When I saw this wreath leaning against the St. Frances statue my first thought was that a friend or family member had placed it there. I was getting ready to send a few inquiring texts. Upon closer inspection I saw the tag and had such a wonderful feeling towards not only the organization, but the volunteers who placed it. So much so that I immediately searched Wreaths Across America to learn more about them and promptly signed up to be a volunteer next December 2020!
Wreaths Across America has a great hometown grassroots origin. Morrill Worcester, owner of the Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine, won a trip to Washington, D.C. when he was 12. A trip that left an indelible impression on him of what a sacrifice the veterans buried at Arlington had made.
In 1992, the Worcester Wreath company found with a surplus of wreaths near the end of the Christmas season. Recalling his boyhood experience at Arlington, Worcester saw the opportunity to honor our country's veterans. With help from Maine senator Olympia Snow, they set out to place the surplus wreaths at Arlington. These were placed in an older section of Arlington that was recieving less visitors every year.
This tribute went on for many years, then in 2005 the iconic photo of the wreath decorated stones at Arlington hit the internet and the nation payed attention! Thousands of requests poured in from all over the country from people wanting to join in.
This network grows stronger and reaches farther every year. I'm looking forward to being a part of it in 2020!
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