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Wreaths Across America Kenneth Riege
Wreaths Across America
*An image went viral in 2005, inspiring increased national interest in the annual tribute and prompting the formation of Wreaths Across America as a non-profit 501-(c)(3).
By Kenneth Riege USAF Veteran 1985 – 1993
Wreaths Across America is an organization that dates its beginning to Mr. Morrill Worcester, who is the owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, ME. As a 12-year-old paper boy, Morrill had won a trip to Washington, DC, which he states was a trip he would never forget, especially Arlington National Cemetery which made an indelible impression on him. The experience would follow him throughout his life and very successful career. It served as a reminder that his blessed life was due, in large part, to the values of this nation and the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
In 1992, Worcester Wreath’s found themselves with a surplus of Christmas Wreaths. Remembering his boyhood experiences at Arlington, Mr. Worcester realized he now had an opportunity to honor those buried at Arlington, and with
Wreaths Across America the assistance of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, arrangements were made to place these wreaths in one of the older sections of the cemetery that sadly had seen fewer visitors each year. This tribute went on quietly for several years until 2005 when a photo of the headstones at Arlington, adorned with wreaths, covered in snow, went viral and all of a sudden, the project received national attention. It didn’t take long for this project to receive national attention, and with that, thousands of request poured in from across the nation from people wanting to help out and also to emulate the Arlington project at their State and National Veterans Cemeteries, thus creating the organization, Wreath’s Across America.
On the 13th of December 2008, over 300 locations held wreath-laying ceremonies across the United States, Puerto Rico, and 24 overseas cemeteries, placing over 100,000 wreaths on veterans’ graves. This was huge; over 60,000 volunteers participated. This date was unanimously voted on by the U.S. Congress as “Wreaths Across America Day.” The date has since been changed to the second Saturday of every December.
In 2014, the organization’s original goal of covering Arlington National Cemetery was met with the placement of 226,525 wreaths. The wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington is still held annually on either the second or third Saturday of December. Wreaths Across America’s annual pilgrimage from Harrington, ME, to Arlington National Cemetery has become known as the world’s largest veterans’ parade, stopping at schools, monuments, veterans homes, and communities all along the way to remind people how important it is to always “Remember, Honor and Teach.”
For more information on Wreaths Across America and how you can help out, please visit their website at: www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
This month’s Medal of Honor Quote comes from WW2 MOH Recipient Mr. Francis S. “Frank” Currey. Mr. Currey was born on 29 June 1925 and sadly passed on 8 Oct 2019. His quote is as follows: “There are two kinds of people in this world – those who get things done and those who take credit for getting things done. Belong to the first group; there is much less competition.”
These quotes can be found in the book: Medal of Honor “Quotes” Inspiration from American’s Military Heroes available through the Center for American Values. To order this book or to find out more about this organization, please visit their website at: www.americanvaluescenter.org.
For more information on Mr. Francis Currey or all of America’s greatest military heroes, please visit the Medal of Honor Society’s website at: www.cmohs. org.
