Understanding Wreaths Across America

Through The Eyes Of A Volunteer Driver, Blue Star Father, and Patriot

One of the best things we do with the Wreaths Across America Newsletter, is get a chance to share the personal stories and perspectives of the many folks involved. Here is a first hand account from Dave Mott, a Walmart Truck Driver and Blue Star Father who drove in the 2012 Wreath Escort To Arlington. I hope you enjoy this inside peek at what it was like for Dave and his son Nick to join us this past December. And thank you to the Mott family for allowing us to share.

As the Holiday season 2012 approached I thought about getting a wreath for my front door. I knew I wanted one, and although I had purchased a very nice one for dear friends in Florida…I didn’t buy one for myself, thinking perhaps there was one out there that would be special for my door, perhaps a local church, or the scouts…somewhere there was a wreath that would make itself known to me, little did I know…

I was on vacation in Florida when I got a call from a fellow driver telling me I had been chosen to drive a truck load of wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. My first thought was one of disbelief, many good drivers had thrown their name into the ring for the chance to help deliver wreaths to our nations cemetery as I had. To this day I am not really sure why I was chosen, and my questions as to why my name had been picked was only met by smiles from my peers. I had no idea how much this trip would mean to me, how much it would change the way I look at my fellow countrymen and women, or how much of an imprint it would make on my very soul.

The first day of our journey found eleven Walmart Peterbilts bobtailing our way from our facility in Lewiston, Maine to Harrington, Maine where many good folk had been building and boxing wreaths and loading them into our trailers, staged there previously over a period of a month by other drivers. Along the way, we stopped at the Veterans Cemetery in Augusta to honor those fallen heroes, one of which was a fellow Walmart driver, Reggie St. Pierre. Reggie’s family met us there with hugs and gratitude for our visit, no one seemed to notice the light drizzle on that chilly morning. It was heartwarming to see his family’s faces light up as we all made our way into the tight quarters there…and as we filed out I couldn’t help but feel Reggie’s presence with us…helping to keep this trip a smooth one as was his way.

From there we made our way to Harrington where Morrill and Karen Worcester, owners of Worcester Wreath Company, had started Wreaths Across America in 1992. Their staff welcomed us with open arms and was still working on loading the final few trailers to begin their journey, not only to Arlington…but to veterans memorials and grave sites in all fifty states. The transportation and delivery are handled by about 100 different trucking companies who donate equipment, fuel and drivers for this worthy cause…with more and more companies offering their help every year. Walmart alone had 96 drivers involved and delivered wreaths into 16 different states, many of the drivers driving one leg of that particular trailers journey, then passing the trailer onto a different driver for the next leg until final destination. Two of us were chosen as Arlington drivers and were able to pick up and deliver to Arlington with many ceremonial stops along the way.

After hooking to my trailer, a Worcester Wreath employee came by with a pickup load of wreaths and attached one to the grill of my Peterbilt, as he did each and every truck that would be a part of the procession. As busy as we all were at the time, I didn’t think about this particular wreath, and it would be 8 days and 1684 miles later that it would occur to me the significance this balsam fir piece would hold, and how proud I would be to remove it from my grill and have it grace my front door, as it became that very special wreath I had been looking for.

Our first Sunday morning was cold but clear. We were lined up and ready to go early, fire trucks and police cars, Patriot Riders wrapped in cold weather gear astride their Harley’s, a tour bus carrying Gold star parents, and lots of tractor trailers from all across the nation. As we pulled out of town with a police escort making our way south on Route One, the chatter on my CB radio was full of enthusiasm and excitement as we were told the procession was over five miles long! People came out of their homes in advance of our passing, some waving flags, many with obvious tears of appreciation on their faces. I saw a young man in his Spiderman pajamas, a little girl who drove her Barbie jeep down to join her family at the edge of the road, giving us the universal horn pull sign as we held our air horn tethers down in unison.

I will never forget though, an older gentleman standing behind his walker…proudly wearing a hat pronouncing his military branch of choice…standing bolt upright facing us, with what can only be described as a crisp and perfect salute to our entire procession. As tears welled and the lump in my throat grew, it became clear to me the pride these people have for our country, for our freedom that so many have fought for, and all too many have died for…today young and old alike embraced this convoy of wreath carrying rigs…an embrace that would continue for me, all the way to Arlington.

With two sons currently serving in the Army, my thoughts often went to them and my desire to share this love of country and pride in our soldiers that I felt every mile of this journey. As the miles fell away, I began to formulate a plan to share this with my Sons. Nick had just returned from his duty overseas and was stationed in Georgia. Shaun happened to be in training getting ready for his next deployment which made his involvement impossible. So a few phone calls to my son Nick, getting permission from his commanders and a quick airline reservation later…we had a plan. My journey continued with so many stops along the way that it would be impossible to mention them all. But in every single town and city we passed through or visited, we found the same enthusiasm for our veterans.

The streets were lined with school children waving flags and we drove under ladder trucks from several cities with giant American flags that billowed as we maneuvered our rigs beneath them. Veterans groups like the VFW and Elks clubs welcomed us and fed us all with so much gratitude and respect. Schools opened their auditoriums and held ceremonies with children showing with pride the work they had done at local veterans gravesites and memorials where they cleaned stones and recognized soldiers, even writing letters to family members showing appreciation for the sacrifice they all shared in loosing a loved one. All the while we were met at the border of each new town or city with local police and fire trucks, the previous towns would hand us off to the next…many were waiting with police and fireman lining both sides of the road in full dress uniform, standing in salute as we passed by. Bystanders would pull over and stand beside their cars in a show of respect when they realized what our convoy represented.

The fellow drivers and their families, the Gold Star families, the volunteers for Wreaths Across America, the four Maine State Police Troopers, Maine’s first lady Ann LePage and her sister, the many Patriot Guardsmen whose numbers grew with each state we entered as they led the way on their Harley’s…all became family to me as we traveled together. The quality of these people was outstanding, their pride was heartfelt. At each stop I met and visited with good folk, along the way I began to mention my sons and the fact that Nick would join us for the final leg of our journey into Arlington itself. As I spoke of my sons, a movement began…an effort from many to pick Nick up at DC’s airport and whisk him to our last dinner together as a group at a VFW just outside of Washington.

Several members of my Walmart Transportation family worked diligently to find a ride for my son. They would be joining us late on the last evening before we arrived at Arlington and were not sure if they would make it in time for his flight. They took the time to find subway routes and taxi cab phone numbers just in case their travels down took longer than expected. The four Maine State Troopers had also been discussing Nick’s arrival and had mentioned it to Maine’s First Lady…soon afterward I was approached by them and told not to worry, Maine’s Governor wanted to handle this…to welcome a Maine soldier home, and in style. This thought I had…of Nick joining us, swelled into a mass of pride from all those who traveled as one. On our last night together, others had left for our final ceremony at the VFW…I walked out of the motel to join a Maine State Trooper to meet Nick at the airport, and found this too had grown into something special.

Nick walked off his plane and was met not only by his very proud father, but a fully uniformed Maine State Officer and seven Patriot Riders. Our ride from the airport to the VFW with Harleys ahead and behind, lights flashing and flags billowing, had my son wondering what had just happened. Our arrival at that evenings ceremony found it in full swing, but the ceremonies were interrupted when Nick walked through the door. Ladies of the VFW were trying to seat Nick and get him some food when the whole room stood in appreciation and people began to file back and shake his hand, pose for pictures with him…and ask me how he got so much bigger than his dad. During all of the commotion, I was approached by a very nice lady who asked if Nick was my son. We visited a bit, and she told me her son had been in the same company as Nick and said she would love to speak with him. On our ride from the airport, Nick had told me his company commander had given him a Regimental Coin…and wanted him to mark the gravestone for a particular soldier they had recently lost, but didn’t know the exact location of the stone.

We were going to go back to our room and look up that soldiers information later, Nick had his name on a piece of paper in his pocket, and he had been very concerned that we accomplish the task of finding this soldiers grave site. Shortly after our arrival at the VFW, the nice lady who had stopped and visited with me approached Nick and they began their visit. I watched their conversation change from polite, to wide eyed amazement as Nick discovered this was the Mom of his soldier. She was stunned when he pulled her sons name out of his pocket and also showed her the company coin from his commander, and he was equally stunned when she pulled a piece of paper from her pocket that she had written her sons grave site on. I witnessed the gratitude on this mothers face, that her son had not only been remembered, but his site was being discussed and actively sought out by a fellow soldier.

This Mom later told me she had no advance plans to attend this ceremony, and really wasn’t sure why she came. It was a last minute decision she had made, but told me with a smile, now she knew why she had been called to attend.

Saturday morning, National Wreath Laying Day….found Nick and I up early and ready to go. Upon arriving at the Peterbilt, we found our Walmart family had been up late, decorating the Pete with American flags and a large Army flag attached high on the handrail on Nicks side. The Branchville Fire Department held a wonderful breakfast for all of us, and Nick was able to visit with a Gold Star Mom who’s son had also been a member of Nick’s team. As we climbed into the truck for this final leg of our journey, I was filled with so many emotions. My son would ride with me and experience what his Dad does for a living, drive a truck….while showing gratitude for what he does for a living as a soldier. The ride into Arlington was solemn for us, he saw the streets lined with grateful people, police and Patriot Guardsmen roaring back and forth blocking traffic.

Our arrival at Arlington itself found upwards of twenty thousand people, waiting to help unload and place the 110,000 wreaths we were delivering. Nick and Kim, a member of my work family, was able to witness the changing of the guards together while I prepared the load for it’s final delivery. At 1030 hours sharp, all of the trailer doors were opened and people of all ages began to unload and place wreaths on soldiers graves. Nick and I found his soldiers grave, laid a wreath and coined his headstone after a short prayer together. This young man, Son to the Mom we had met only yesterday, made the ultimate sacrifice for our country’s freedom.

It was over all too soon. Nick and I were together less than twenty four hours, but our experience will last a lifetime. One more hug as I dropped him off at the airport for his return flight, I knew he couldn’t wait to get home and hug his own children. My return to Maine without escorts or the lively CB chatter I had become accustomed to, was melancholy. Every mile brought reflections of the many good people I met during this journey, the pride of having been chosen to make this run and to even have a job with a company that supports this great movement, the honor I felt to have two son’s willing to defend this country’s freedom.

How Wreaths Across America Came To Be Chosen As The ‘Charity Of Choice’

Racing To Remember Starts Today At 2013 Speed Week

George Welty, Morrill Worcester, and Dave Pack at the 2012 Events at Arlington

Inspired by his first trip to Arlington National Cemetery on “Wreaths Across America Day” December 15th 2012 , Gulf-War Veteran Dave Pack volunteered his time and joined 30,000 patriotic Americans in placing 105,000 remembrance wreaths with red bows on fallen soldiers graves.

Over 250,000 volunteers from all 50 states and on foreign soil joined across the country, and with the volunteer help from many corporate supporters including the entire trucking industry who assists in the support and delivery of the wreaths, Dave Pack felt compelled to honor Wreaths Across America, the trucking industry, and the American soldier a little further. With over five years experience in marketing and personal relations in stock-car racing’s highest levels, Dave Pack formed TruckerFan.com, a NASCAR race related company dedicated to truckers and the trucking industry in honor of the American soldier.

The charity of choice being Wreaths Across America. Within a little over a month and operating on a shoestring budget, TruckerFan.com had sponsored team owner and driver Brian Keselowski’s little known #52 team for the 55th annual Daytona 500 to represent Wreaths Across America, service members, veterans, their families, truckers and the trucking industry and a patriotic nation.

“I went to work with two close friends who wanted to invest their time and money to sponsor a Wreaths Across America car at Daytona.” says Pack. “I see an opportunity to assist in some way and inspire a country. That’s what Truckerfan.com is all about.

Inspiring Americans to remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Wreaths Across America and their supporters placed over 400,00 wreaths in 2012 on our fallen heroes grave sites, but there are an estimated 2.7 million such grave sites, so we have a lot of work to do. I felt keeping the flame lit, so to speak by having our little underdog race team try to make a difference and reach the NASCAR fans would be beneficial in reaching our 2013 mission.”

As Dave explained, “my phone has rang off the hook and email has been overwhelming with the response and support. With the support of Wreaths Across America and others, we’ll promote our give by cell text “Honor to 20222″ fundraiser in which 100% of a $10 donation each person makes will help sponsor a wreath at Arlington this December. TruckerFan.com Racing apparel and merchandise will also be offered along with company sponsorship opportunities to raise the necessary funding to continue our race team efforts after Daytona. I feel the weight of a country on our shoulders and I welcome the opportunity to represent so many in front of America. We’re going to give it all we got at Daytona and see if we can give a patriotic nation a team to root for and maybe, ‘shock the world!’”

Catch The #52 Brian Keselowski Wreaths Across America Car On TV

Daytona “Speedweeks” TV/Radio Schedule February 17th-24th:

:Feb 16th 11am-1pm and 2pm-3:45pm NSCS practice

:Feb. 17th 1:05pm est. Daytona Sprint Cup Qualifying/Fox Channel T.V./Sirius XM/MRN/PRN radio(Brian Keselowski #52)

:Feb. 18th 12pm-1:30pm est. Daytona Sprint Cup Practice/Speed Channel(Brian Keselowski #52)

:Feb. 21st  2pm est. Daytona Sprint Cup ”Budweiser Duel 150′s Qualifying Race” Speed Channel T.V./Sirius-XM/MRN/PRN radio(Brian Keselowski #52)

:***Feb. 22nd 11am-12pm Daytona 500 Practice /Speed Channel T.V.(Brian Keselowski #52)

:***Feb. 23rd 10:30am-12pm est. Daytona Sprint Cup Practice/Speed Channel T.V.(Brian Keselowski #52)

:***Feb. 24th 1pm est. Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Race/Fox Network T.V.(Brian Keselowski #52)

***denotes pending qualifying(each team has two opportunities to qualify for the Daytona 500 through individual qualifying and the Duel 150′s race).

Enter To Win Autographed Brian Keselowski Hero Cards

Driver Brian Keselowski will proudly pilot the #52 Wreaths Across America™ stock-car sponsored by TruckerFan.com in this year’s 55th annual “Great American Race,” the DAYTONA 500. And we’ve got your chance to win an autographed hero card!

Excited for the big race this year? Wreaths Across America™ will be posting to Twitter all through Speedweek (Saturday, Feb. 16 through Sunday, Feb. 24th).  Wreaths Across America will be giving away, daily, two autographed hero cards of Brian Keselowski.

So, how can you win? Simple. We will be looking for your posts on Twitter at @WreathsAcross with TWO options for you to enter daily:

Option #1:

Every day we will tweet two questions.  All answers can be found on the Wreaths Across America website, Daytona 500 website or BK Motorsports Facebook Page.

Tweet your answer to the question. Include @WreathsAcross Twitter handle in your tweet, and include the Daytona 500 hashtag in your post #Daytona500

Option #2 (for those at the event):

During Speedweek, take a picture visiting #52 Wreaths Across America™ stock-car sponsored by TruckerFan.com

Tweet us your picture. Include @WreathsAcross Twitter handle in your tweet, and include the Daytona 500 hashtag in your post #Daytona500

Gentleman & Ladies, Start Your Engines!

For every correct answer or photo you tweet, your name is entered into our sweepstakes, up to three entries per day, per person. Each person can only win once.

We will reach out to the two daily winners by 6pm ET via Twitter, chosen randomly by Random Line Picker.  The winner has 24 hours to respond before they forfeit their prize. Winners of the hero cards on Sunday, Feb. 24th will be chosen before the scheduled race start time of 1pm ET, the same 24-hour rule applies.

Official Rules

1. By entering the sweepstakes, you are agreeing to the Official Rules.
2. Must be 18 years or older to enter and a U.S. resident.
3. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.
4. Winner receives one autographed hero card of Brian Keselowski.
5. The sweepstakes, begins 9 a.m. ET, Saturday, Feb. 16, and ends at 12:59 p.m. ET, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013; Winners will be notified by 6pm ET via Twitter, except on Sunday, Feb. 24, when winners will be notified by 1pm ET. Winners will have 24 hours to respond to @WreathsAcross with an email and mailing address to receive their autographed hero cards. Winners who fail to make contact will forfeit their hero cards and a runner-up will be chosen at the discretion of Wreaths Across America; all prizes will be awarded. All entries must be received through Twitter. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Wreaths Across America has the right to use entrants’ and winner’s name, image and likeness for promotional purposes.

Brian  Keselowski  to  Race  Wreaths  Across  America  Car  Sponsored  by  TruckerFan.com  at  DAYTONA  500

WHEELERSBURG,  Ohio  and  COLUMBIA  FALLS,  Maine – Feb.  5,  2013 – Stock-­‐Car  driver  Brian  Keselowski  will  proudly  pilot  the  #52  Wreaths Across America stock-car sponsored by TruckerFan.com in this year’s 55th annual “Great  American  Race ,” the  DAYTONA  500.

Keselowski,  the  team  owner  of  Brian  Keselowski/HMR  Motorsports  and  brother  Brad, NASCAR’s  2012  Sprint  Cup  Champion,  will  carry  a  fully sponsored  all-­‐American  red,  white  and  blue,  stars  and  stripe  paint  scheme  highlighting  the Wreaths Across America logo.  The  car  will  also  be  decaled  with  the  text  word  and  number  to  donate  $10  directly  to  Wreaths  Across  America  through  “Give By Cell.” Cell. Text  the  word  HONOR  to  20222  to  help  raise  awareness  and  funding  for  the  federally  licensed  501(c)  3  nonprofit.

“I’m truly honored to be a part of this,” said Keselowski. ” I wanted to go to Daytona this year but didn’t think we’d have enough funding, and then I received a phone call from a group of investors who are also veterans. The group, named TruckerFan.com, wanted to pay for the sponsorship for Wreaths Across America at Daytona and asked me if I’d represent them.”

“I’ve been a race fan for fifty years says Wreaths Across America founder Morrill Worcester. “This is truly exciting and I love the look of the car. We want to reach and inspire an entire country and NASCAR is a great way to do that. The people who stepped up to do this have been working hard to put this together out of their own pockets. I think it’s a testimony to the American spirit.”

Keselowski added, “This is a blessing and truly an honor to represent such a worthwhile organization. We’re a small team, but we’ll give it all we got at Daytona for our fallen heroes in their memory. I hope everyone can take the time to go to WreathsAcrossAmerica.org to witness this incredible mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach, and the support they receive from people all over the country who love our freedom.” Keselowski went on to say that as of now, there is only enough funding provided from the investors for one race, but efforts are being made to secure more races with Wreaths Across America, including apparel and merchandise sales for additional funding.

Wreaths Across America, whose mission is to Remember, Honor, and Teach, celebrated their 21st anniversary in 2012 by placing over 400,000 wreaths on fallen American veterans graves across the country, including 110,000 at Arlington National Cemetery on December 15th. Congress had recently passes a “National Wreaths Across America Day” celebrated each December on the same day where 250,000 volunteers at 815 locations in all 50 states including Arlington, Virgina and foreign soil. Over 80 volunteer trucking companies and drivers deliver the wreaths to their destinations. The fresh Maine balsam wreaths represent honor and remembrance from a grateful nation. The thousands of volunteers who place wreaths each year stop and reflect, giving thanks to each individual who served for our country.

About TruckerFan.com

TruckerFan Racing Apparel and Merchandise is a division of Fans 4 Truckers, LLC, a motorsports marketing company dedicated to truckers and the trucking industry in honor of the American soldier. TruckerFan Racing “Get It In Gera” items are for the trucker who loves racing and those who support Made in the USA products. Wreaths Across America is the charity of choice of TruckerFan Racing and items sold help sponsor and support the race team. TruckerFan Racingwas inspired by Vice President and Gulf-War Veteran Dave Pack after his visit to Arlington national Cemetery on Wreaths Across America Day, December 15th, 2012.

One Of The Hardest Questions We Get Asked:

Is Why All This Effort For Those Who Have Passed, When There Are So Many Needs Amongst The Living?

There are a number of great organizations who support our living, and wounded veterans in need. But let me share with you some of the things we have learned in the last few years.

1. Our mission is to Remember, Honor, and Teach. We hear every day from our veterans that it matters, and that they and their buddies know they will not be forgotten.
2. While the wreaths are placed on headstones of those who have passed, the Wreaths Across America experience is every bit as much for the living – both those who give the wreath and those who will know their loved one is being remembered.
3. Our organization serves many, but our compass and True North are the Gold Star Families. We feel that if we are doing right by them and the memories of their loved ones, we are on the right course.
4. The holiday season is an especially poignant time, a time for traditional family get togethers. And there are many dinner tables with an empty seat, for those away serving to protect our freedoms and in some cases, for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We believe there is no more important gesture than to take our time amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, and remember how we come to enjoy and the great cost at which these freedoms are provided.

There is something special about symbolic wreath, a circle with no end and made from living evergreens with the sweet fragrance of balsam. The act of placing the wreath, straightening the red bow, and taking a moment of silence is a living tribute to those who put it all on the line.

If you question the impact on the families of those who serve, listen carefully to these words by Gold Star Mother Suzanne Brochu of Maine – who describes the warmth brought by simple wreath – something no plastic ornament could ever replace.

Retrieving The Wreaths Every Bit As Important As Placing Them

Thank you for your interest in helping with the clean-up of wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) on Saturday, January 26, 2013. There is no rain/snow date alternative.

The ANC Welcome Center Parking Lot will open at 0700 and will have free parking until 1:00pm.  We encourage the use of Metro if possible.  ANC Pedestrian gates will open at 0800. Clockwise from north these gates include the Ord-Weitzel gate (near the Iwo Jima Memorial and Rosslyn Metro), the main cemetery and the Visitors Center gates (nearest Arlington Cemetery Metro), the south Maintenance Complex gate (nearest Pentagon and Pentagon City Metro), the South Gate next to the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall main gate, and the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel gate.

Parking within the Cemetery is restricted to those vehicles with ANC Family Passes and those with valid Handicap Permits.  All Vehicles with ANC Family Passes and Handicap Permits arriving before the cemetery’s opening at 0800 will be required to enter and park at the Welcome Center Parking Lot Upper Level.  Once the Cemetery opens at 0800, the early arrivals will then be allowed to enter the Cemetery proper via the gate adjacent to the parking lot and be directed to park along Patton Drive.  Those with Handicap Permits will again be allowed to park in the Administrative/Employee Parking Lot.

This is a family oriented event and we encourage families of all ages to participate.

There is no formal sign-up or registration required.  Just show up at the designated time and place.

There will be a short Volunteer Briefing at the Memorial Amphitheater at 0845 with wreath clean-up starting at approximately 0900.  Volunteers are asked to pick up ONLY those WAA wreaths placed in December leaving any other wreaths or decorations alone.  There will be several dumpsters placed throughout the cemetery to dispose of the wreaths.  We have a very limited number of dumpsters available so we ask the volunteers to pack the wreaths as tight as possible in the dumpsters and to stay available at least to 12:00, longer if possible, to help with any extra wreath disposal needed as some dumpsters will be emptied and brought back to locations to be refilled.

We have found it helpful if you bring a stick, pole, rope, rake or something equivalent to support carring multiple wreaths per dumpster trip.  Please dress for the weather and wear gloves and water-proof footwear.

Keep checking on the Wreaths Across America web page at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org and on the Arlington Wreath’s facebook pages at www.facebook.com/ArlingtonWreaths and www.facebook.com/WAAHQ  throughout 2013 to check on the details of the next Arlington Wreath Project, currently scheduled for Saturday December 14, 2013.

I thank you all for the continued support.

Wayne Hanson
Arlington Wreath Project Coordinator

Gone But Not Forgotten

Written at the height of World War II, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is a song that still carries meaning today, especially as America enters her second decade of the War on Terror. During the holiday season, we are reminded of, and pause to reflect upon, those who have returned to us, and those who will not. Christmas, in addition to birthdays and anniversaries, can be one of the loneliest times of the year for the families of the fallen.

In a few days, families will travel far and wide to be together. Yet, for those lost, there will be an empty chair at the table this year, and in all the years to follow.

Wreaths Across America embodies the very best of the holiday spirit. By paying our respects to these men and women through the simple act of placing a wreath, we let their families know their brave warriors will always be with them.

I could write endlessly about the ways to honor our fallen servicemembers. No one way being better than any other way, but just taking the time to honor those who risked, and in many cases gave, their lives in defense of this nation is something all Americans should do.

That has been the mission of Wreaths Across America for the past 20 years. Those involved with this tradition dedicate significant time and energy into making sure that the veterans of this nation are not forgotten at Christmas.

On December 15, thousands gathered at our national cemeteries across the nation to lay wreaths. This year, Wreaths Across America surpassed all previous years, placing more wreaths than ever before, and reached the 1 millionth wreath milestone. That is how important this simple display of honor has become.

This Christmas, think of our soldiers, Marines, sailors, airmen, and Coastsguardmen who are far from home protecting each of you, and say a prayer for those we have lost and their families as you gather around the Christmas tree with your own loved ones. We can all do more to help these families, but the most important at this special time of year is letting them know their loved ones are still beloved by all of us.

Merry Christmas.

— Rep. Jeff Miller is Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

Wreaths Across America Honors 420,000 Veterans

110,662 Remembrance Wreaths Placed at Arlington National Cemetery Including the One Millionth Wreath Since 1992

Gold Star Parents Lloyd and Mary Byers, along with wounded serviceman Sgt. Justin Lansford place the one millionth wreath at Arlington National Cemetery.

ARLINGTON, Va., and COLUMBIA FALLS, Maine — Dec. 17, 2012 — Wreaths Across America, along with nearly 200,000 volunteers across the country and overseas at 825 locations, placed 420,000 remembrance wreaths on the headstones of our nation’s fallen military on Saturday in celebration of National Wreaths Across America Day. At Arlington National Cemetery, 110,662 wreaths were placed by more than 20,000 volunteers, making it the largest wreath delivery to date at our nation’s cemetery.

This is the group’s 21st year laying wreaths at Arlington, and marked the laying of the one-millionth wreath since the start of the program in 1992 by Maine businessman and wreath-maker Morrill Worcester. Mary Byers, president of The American Gold Star Mothers, was joined by her husband Lloyd and wounded veteran Army Sgt. Justin Lansford to place the millionth wreath in section 60 — the newest section of the cemetery — where soldiers from the country’s most recent conflicts are laid to rest. “I am so grateful to Wreaths Across America and Morrill Worcester for giving me this great honor,” said Mary Byers, president, American Gold Star Mothers. “I lay this wreath in honor of my son, Josh, and all the soldiers who won’t make it home.”

Wreaths Across America’s mission — Remember, Honor, Teach — is carried out in part by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. Since becoming a nonprofit in 2007, the organization has since expanded to include more than 1,000 local fundraising groups in all 50 states representing more than 800 cemeteries, military memorials and other locations, along with Arlington National Cemetery.

“To say we are overwhelmed by the number of people who came out to support our mission is an understatement. The patriotism shown here today fills my heart with hope and we are thankful beyond words,” said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America. “We will remember heroes today, and honor their families, but we will also teach our children the importance of character. The character of an American is not easily defined, but it can be seen by the sacrifices of our young men and women fighting to protect our freedoms, and the loved ones they leave behind.”

The wreaths’ journey to Arlington has become a tradition over the past two decades, allowing locals along the more than 700-mile route to share in the emotional and educational experience as the convoy of long-haul tractor-trailers, buses, police and motorcycles passed through their hometowns. The trip to Arlington National Cemetery started Sunday, Dec. 9 in Harrington, Maine, and ended at Arlington this past Saturday to the welcome of more than 20,000 volunteers who had come out to support the effort.

The wreaths placed at Arlington will remain through the New Year and will be collected on Jan. 26, 2013.

We Need Your Help To Be Better In 2013

Please Take A Moment To Share Your Feedback

With over 800 participating locations, we are still collecting news and updates from our many volunteers. Please take a moment to fill out this short survey to help us better understand what we are doing right, and what we can do better in 2013. Thank you!

WAA Radio Broadcasting Events From The 2012 Wreath Escort To Arlington

Watch The Sights, Sounds, & Interviews

Each year we broadcast what we like to call Wreaths Across America Radio, sharing the sights, sounds, and interviews from the annual escort of the wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery, and with our many of our 800+ participating locations all around the Country.