ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, on
National Wreaths Across America Day at 2,158 participating
locations nationwide, grateful Americans in every state volunteered
to help place 2.2 million veterans' wreaths on the headstones of
our nation's heroes, saying each name out loud. At Arlington
National Cemetery, in spite of rain and cold, more than 38,000
volunteers placed 254,000 wreaths.
Nearly 600 truckloads of wreaths were transported
across the country through a network of hundreds of volunteer
drivers, donated trucking services and fuel, and countless hours of
dedicated volunteers committed to the mission to Remember the
fallen, Honor those that serve and their families and Teach the
next generation the value of freedom.
"The theme for Wreaths Across America this year has been
'everyone plays a part,' and I am reminded daily how true this
statement really is," said Karen
Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America. "As
we grow to include new communities and honor and remember more
veterans each year, it is clear, there is no role too small. We are
grateful and humbled by the outpouring of support across the
country."
Each live, balsam veteran's wreath is a gift of respect and
appreciation, donated by a private citizen or organization and
placed on the graves by volunteers as a small gesture of gratitude
for the freedoms Americans enjoy. For centuries, fresh evergreens
have been used as a symbol of honor and have served as a living
tribute renewed annually. Wreaths Across America believes the
tradition represents a living memorial that honors veterans, active
duty military and their families. Volunteers are asked to say the
name of the veteran out loud when placing a wreath to ensure their
memory lives on.
National Wreaths Across America Day is a free event and open to
all people. For more information, visit
www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
About Wreaths Across America
Wreaths Across America is
a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand
the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery
begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The
organization's mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in
part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December
at Arlington, as well as at more than 2,000 cemeteries and other
locations in all 50 states and beyond.
For more information or to sponsor a wreath, please visit
www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
Press contact:
Amber
Caron
Wreaths Across America
(207) 513-6457
acaron@wreathsacrossamerica.org
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SOURCE Wreaths Across America