In life, they honored their country. In death, their country honors them.
Join us on National Wreaths Across America Day
December 16, 2017
Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, our mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as over 1,200 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea, and abroad.
Announcements
The national theme for 2017 is I’m an American. Yes, I am.
Announcements
The national theme for 2017 is I’m an American. Yes, I am.
The inspiration for this year's theme came from a song by Maine’s own singer/ songwriter Rick Charette.
But it was when the words were sung by a group of enthusiastic school children at Kennebunk Elementary School during a stop on the 2016 escort of wreaths to Arlington that it took on new meaning for WAA.
CEMETERIES ARE FOR THE LIVING
A person dies twice: once when they take their final breath, and later, the last time their name is spoken.
CEMETERIES ARE FOR THE LIVING
A person dies twice: once when they take their final breath, and later, the last time their name is spoken.
When we lay wreaths on veterans' graves, we say their names.
We encourage every volunteer who places a wreath on a veteran's grave to say that veteran's name aloud and take a moment to thank them for their service to our country. It's a small act that goes a long way toward keeping the memory of our veterans alive.
We are not here to “decorate graves." We're here to remember not their deaths, but their lives.
—Karen Worcester, Executive Director of Wreaths Across America
Get Involved
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
—Helen Keller
Get Involved
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
—Helen Keller
How can I help?
We can't do it without you. Whether you are a single individual, a corporation, a volunteer group, a trucker or a trucking company, there are plenty of ways you can get involved in helping us honor and remember our nation's fallen servicemen and women.
Questions About Participating at Arlington National Cemetery?
On December 16, 2017, Wreaths Across America will be at Arlington National Cemetery to Remember and Honor our veterans through the laying of Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country's fallen heroes and the act of saying the name of each and every veteran aloud. If you would like to participate in the wreath-laying, and attend the ceremonies occurring that day throughout the cemetery, please click the button below for details, schedules, parking info, and more:
Join Us and Together Let's #SayTheirNames
Connect with us on social media and join the conversation.
Our Story Intro
An act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.
—Amelia Earhart
Our Story Intro
An act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.
—Amelia Earhart
A boyhood visit to Arlington National Cemetery left a big impression on Morrill Worcester—one he never forgot.
Decades later, in 1992, his company's surplus of 5,000 wreaths and his desire to have them placed at Arlington kicked off an annual tribute that went on quietly for over ten years. With national interest in the project having grown so greatly, in 2007 a dedicated group of volunteers formed Wreaths Across America as a non-profit 501-(c)3 to continue and expand the mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach.
Our Mission
Our mission isn't over once December ends.
Our Mission
Our mission isn't over once December ends.
We Remember, Honor, Teach all year long.
While coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies is a big part of what we do, our mission is carried out throughout the year. Here's how.
R E M E M B E R
From the Remembrance Trees dedicated to our lost servicemen and women, to the WAA Museum at our headquarters in Maine, Wreaths Across America connects with the families and friends of fallen servicemen and women, to keep their memories alive all year long.
H O N O R
Each day of the year is an opportunity to show our respect in the year-round mission to honor those who serve and sacrifice. Every wreath placed becomes a catalyst for bringing together different generations of Americans in one mission of remembrance and appreciation.
T E A C H
Our annual convoy from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery stops at many schools along the way, introducing young people to veterans and our mission to honor them—it is just one of the many ways we strive to teach children the value of freedom.
Locations
Honoring veterans at over 1,200 locations—and growing with your help
Locations
Honoring veterans at over 1,200 locations—and growing with your help
On National Wreaths Across America Day each December, volunteers place wreaths on individual veterans' graves in over 1,200 locations throughout the U.S., with ceremonies at sea, and at each of the national cemeteries on foreign soil.
You can sponsor a wreath at a cemetery near you, or even volunteer with or donate to a local fundraising group.
If you don't see a location near you, Wreaths Across America will support you in becoming a Location Coordinator for a cemetery in your area. There is no cost to become a participating location and host a WAA ceremony this December.
Click the button below to learn more.
Find a Location
Sponsor a wreath at a cemetery of your choosing.
Find a Fundraising Group
Donate to a fundraising group in your area.
Your Donation Counts
When you donate, you will see how far your money goes to honor those who served.
Your Donation Counts
When you donate, you will see how far your money goes to honor those who served.
Where Your Dollars Go
We take our mission seriously: when you donate to Wreaths Across America, your money sponsors a wreath first. $0.86 of every dollar donated goes toward wreath sponsorships, shipping costs not covered by our trucking partners, and fundraising group paybacks. WAA operates on the remaining margin, keeping overhead low and paying wages to just eight full-time employees; our Executive Director and Chairman take zero salary and are 100% committed to the mission.
Our Supporters
Thank you to our supporters for helping our mission in 2016!
Our Supporters
Thank you to our supporters for helping our mission in 2016!
Corporate Donors
See why we place wreaths and how it impacts those who gave the most.
Wreaths Across America started as a grass-roots effort to remember those willing to serve and sacrifice. But each year we see an increasing number of corporate and industry donors who step up to help us honor more veterans, at Arlington National Cemetery and in over 1,200 local communities nationwide. Recognizing the sacrifices made by our military families is good for business, and many of our corporate supporters also have made pledges to hire our veterans and keep America strong.
Trucking Partners
This image alone, was seen by over 1.1 million people in the last year.
In 2016, 172 companies delivered 359+ loads of wreaths to be placed on veterans' graves.
We are incredibly thankful for their continued and generous support in ensuring that fallen veterans in all corners of our great United States are honored. Learn how you can join these great companies and become a WAA Trucking Partner.
Organization Partners
On Oct. 20, 2016, at the Wreaths Across America National Headquarters in Columbia Falls, Maine, American Gold Star Mothers entered into a formal partnership with WAA, aligning the groups’ similar missions. Pictured at the signing is (L-R) Wayne Hanson, WAA Chairman of the Board; Candy Martin, National President, AGSM; and Karen Worcester, WAA Executive Director.
Wreaths Across America partners with like-minded organizations that share common missions and goals to build awareness for the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, and that of their families. Through collaborative outreach on both the local and national levels, Wreaths Across America and its Partners are expanding the network of supporters, volunteers and donors while helping other organizations do the same.
News and Contact
Help Share the Mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach
News and Contact
Help Share the Mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach
Three tools for sharing the mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach
Visit the WAA Media Center for the latest news, events, and social media updates from our supporters across the Nation and around the web. Want to share the Wreaths Across America story to your audience or community? You'll be able to connect with our team, arrange an interview, download some of our most requested images, videos, or the WAA logo.
Read our blog or listen to Wreaths Across America Radio, the 24/7 internet radio station with stories for and about our veterans, their families, and the mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach.
