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| Arlington National Cemetery |
Tomorrow
marks the twentieth anniversary that holiday wreaths will be placed on veteran’s graves
in Arlington National Cemetery.
What began as a labor of love for a Virginia man has grown into a national
organization known as Wreaths Across America. Wreaths are now being laid at
veteran’s graves and cemeteries throughout the country, in all 50 states, on one
special Saturday in December.
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| WAA Logo |
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| Volunteers |
Wreaths
Across America (WAA) is a non-profit organization that was founded to continue
and expand the annual wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery
that began in 1992. Their motto: Remember, Honor, Teach, is still as
important and vital as it was when the organization began.
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| Military Graves |
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| Unboxing Wreaths |
Over 100,000
balsam wreaths will be displayed on the headstones at Arlington this year. Over 400,000 wreaths will be shipped to
locations throughout the US, and abroad.
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| Unloading Trucks at a Cemetery |
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| S.A.R. Volunteers |
This
year’s annual theme: Then, Now, Forever – Let’s Make it Personal” was chosen because many military
families fear that their loved one’s sacrifice might be forgotten. According to WAA Executive Director Karen
Worcester, “Our goal is to make this year come alive in the stories,
imaginations, and memories of all those who serve and sacrifice.”
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| Awaiting the Veteran’s Parade |
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| Parade of Trucks |
The
Veteran’s Parade is a week-long trip from Harrington, Maine to Arlington
National Cemetery in Virginia. WAA stops along the way for tributes and
ceremonies to remember our fallen veterans, honor those who serve, and teach
others about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families.
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| Patriot Guard Riders |
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| Trucks In Route to Virginia with Wreaths |
The
Veteran’s Parade is escorted along the East Coast route by the Patriot Guard
Riders. The group volunteered
their services in 2006 and has continued to offer their support for the
weeklong driving event.
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| Children Line Parade Route |
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| Volunteer Trucker Scott Harris |
Over
50 national trucking companies have volunteered the use of their trucks this year, and
volunteer truckers from across America are giving of their time in picking up
and delivering the wreaths to designated towns across the country, just in time
for this Saturday’s official wreath laying ceremonies.
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| All Veterans are Honored |
WAA
uses live wreaths as a living tribute to recognize and honor those who served. They would like this
symbolic gesture to be seen as a tradition, as a living memorial to honor veterans and
their families.
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| Shanksville, Pennsylvania |
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| Wreath Laying Ceremony |
Wreath laying ceremonies will take place around the country tomorrow, in cemeteries large and small. A
wreath display will also be set up to honor the victims of 9-11 in New York
City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Wreaths
are paid for by individuals, groups, sponsors, and corporate donors. Individual wreath sponsorships are only
$15. Last year, over 1,100 groups
raised funds to assist the wreath sponsorship program. If
you would like to sponsor a wreath for the 2013 Wreaths Across Americas
Remembrance celebration, visit http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/store/
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| Pierre Claeyssens |
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| Wreaths Across America |
As
Pierre Claeyssens said, “To be killed in war is not the worst that can
happen. To be lost is not the worst that can happen… to be forgotten is the
worst.”
~Joy
Wreaths
