Wreaths Across America is a Yearlong Mission
by PCSgrades Staff - November 5th, 2021
Throughout the month of November, PCSgrades hosts a campaign called #Take5Give5, which gives participants an easy way to support military-affiliated nonprofits. One of our featured nonprofits is Wreaths Across America. You can read more about the organization below. Click here to participate in the campaign and support your favorite military-friendly nonprofit.
Wreaths Across America (WAA) is a national non-profit organization best known for remembering fallen veterans with wreaths placed each December at Arlington National Cemetery. However, the organization is much more. As of 2020, the nonprofit placed nearly 2 million sponsored veterans’ wreaths at over 2,500 participating locations nationwide while offering various year-long programs. These programs help live a mission to remember the fallen, honor those that serve and their families, and teach the next generation the value of freedom.
WAA founder Morrill Worcester, a 12-year-old paper boy for the Bangor Daily News, won a trip to Washington D.C., where Arlington National Cemetery became an inspirational location. His pilgrimage served as a consistent reminder, through career and life, that opportunities stemmed from the values and freedom afforded to us by our nation’s veterans.
After years of hard work, Morrill founded Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine. In 1992, Worcester Wreath had a surplus. Morrill saw this as his opportunity to honor our veterans with hopes of returning to Arlington. With the aid of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe (ret.), the first 5,000 wreaths were placed that year at Arlington National Cemetery. As plans were underway, other individuals and organizations shared Morrill’s spirit. Working together built an annual mission that went unnoticed for many years.
In 2005, a photo surfaced of Arlington covered in snow, adorned with wreaths. This picture became a viral internet sensation. Afterwards, thousands of requests poured in from people wanting to help emulate the Arlington success on the local level. This led to the official formation of Wreaths Across America, the national nonprofit, in 2007.
The newly-formed 501c3 began its national effort by sending seven ceremonial wreaths to every state (one for each branch of the military, and for POW/MIAs). Simultaneously, groups began to escort wreaths to Arlington. This started an annual tradition called “The Veterans Honor Parade” which travels the east coast in early December. This part of the mission grew into a multi-mile long convoy which acts as an ambassador by stopping at schools, monuments, veterans’ homes and local communities as the organization's mission is shared.
In 2008, over 60,000 volunteers helped place 100,000 wreaths on veterans’ headstones. Recognizing the organization's impact, the United States Congress unanimously voted to declare “National Wreaths Across America Day” to be held annually on the second or third Saturday of December.
Pierre Claeyssens, who was rescued by U.S. Forces in Belgium 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.” When a volunteer places a wreath on a veteran's headstone, WAA encourages them to speak that veteran's name aloud, thank them for their service and sacrifice, reflect on their life as person and member of a loving family, and never let that service member die a second time.
Presently a small but dedicated staff and more than 7,000 core volunteers across the country work tirelessly on year-long programs. That number grows to more than 2 million--a third of whom are children--who participate in the annual wreath laying events nationwide. Some of these programs include the following:
In 2007, Wreaths Across America expanded its annual wreath placement event to enable groups and organizations to support Arlington National Cemetery and other local, participating cemeteries across the country. The Group Sponsorship Program benefits other like-minded charities, community programs and civic groups through the sale of wreath sponsorships for participating locations. Through this, WAA invites other organizations to help remember and honor our American heroes and teach the next generation by raising funds to sponsor veterans’ wreaths. As a WAA Group Sponsorship partner, your organization will receive $5-of-each-$15 wreath sponsorship to support your important work while sponsoring a veterans’ wreath. Since its start, WAA has given back $15 million to other like-minded groups.
Wreaths Across America Museum Located in the WAA National Headquarters at 4 Point Street in Columbia Falls, Maine, the Museum is an 1,800-square-foot facility showcasing hundreds of items that have been donated to Wreaths Across America by its volunteers, including personal photos, awards, uniforms, helmets and other military memorabilia. The Museum is open year-round with visiting hours Monday through Friday, from 9AM to 4PM.
Mobile Education Exhibit The Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit is a museum on wheels. This 48-foot exhibit is equipped with a 24-person screening room, interactive computers, and extends the mission by traveling to local communities, schools and events. In 2021, the Mobile Education Exhibit national tour include stops in 21 states. The tour was bolstered by many local volunteers. Most importantly, the MEE and WAA Ambassadors transporting it and sharing the mission are proud to have officially welcomed home over 1,500 Vietnam veterans (1,000 in 2021 alone) as part of the organization’s partnership with the United States of America Vietnam War Veterans Commemoration.
The Remembrance Tree Program Throughout the year, Gold Star Families are invited to the “tip-land,” where balsam tips are harvested to be made into veterans’ wreaths. These family members are invited to claim a tree in the name of their loved one with a military-style replica dog-tag, creating a living memorial for that service member. These dog tags and tree locations are recorded and geo-tracked so the family's sponsored wreaths can be made from those trees and revisited by loved ones over the years. WAA Executive director Karen Worcester once said, “There are few things more moving than hearing the sound of thousands of these tags chiming in unison from a gentle breeze on a quiet evening in Maine.”
Wreaths Across America Radio A voice for America’s Veterans, this 24/7 internet radio station streams on iHeart Radio. It has a unique format that mixes country, rock, bluegrass, Americana, information, and inspiring content about members of the U.S. Armed Forces, their families, military veterans, and volunteers who support the mission.
If you want to help honor our veterans, please support the mission by sponsoring a wreath or registering to volunteer to place wreaths at a participating location near you, please visit www.wreathscarossamerica.org. Each $15 sponsorship goes toward a fresh balsam veteran’s wreath that will be placed on the headstone of an American hero as we endeavor to honor all fallen veterans on Saturday, December 18, 20201 as part of National Wreaths Across America Day.
To support Wreaths Across America and other military-friendly nonprofits during the month of November, please take 5 minutes to participate in the #Take5Give5 campaign from PCSgrades.
