Wreaths Across America ... sacrifices of troops are not forgotten

Staunton, Va, National Cemetery in 2009.
Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

Cross-posted at the Washington Examiner....

If you drive by a military cemetery this weekend and see tombstones decorated with fresh, handmade balsam Christmas wreaths accented with bright red bows, you will have witnessed the generosity of Wreaths Across America.

The tradition was started with 4,000 wreaths in 1992 by Morrill Worcester and continues on the second Saturday each December. This year, thousands of volunteers across the nation and around the world will lay 219,000 wreaths on military graves as a remembrance of those who sacrificed for our freedom.

Mr. Worcester's quiet donation eighteen years ago of 4,000 wreaths for Arlington Cemetery became an annual gift of love from this Maine wreath maker who recognized that freedom is not free. Because of his generosity and desire to remember those who sacrificed, he started a tradition that was fairly obscure for 12 years until a photo hit the internet in 2005 showing the Christmas wreaths on Arlington's snow-covered graves.

As the photo hit the internet with the Worcester story, an anonymous person added a caption: "Rest easy, sleep well, my brothers. Know the line has held, your job is done. Rest easy, sleep well. Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held. Peace, peace, and farewell."

Word spread quickly and wreath requests poured in for other military cemeteries around the country which led Mr. Worcester and his family to establish the non-profit Wreaths Across America with a mission to remember, honor, and teach.

What would drive this 59-year-old owner of the largest wreath producing company in the world to give away thousands of wreaths for the past 18 years? Mr. Worcester recalled that when he was a 12-year-old newspaper carrier, he won a Bangor Daily News subscription-selling contest that sent him to the Nation's Capital. The lines of white stones in Arlington Cemetery made an impression on him that never left.

Years later, Christmas 1992, the successful businessman's Worcester Wreath Company had 4,000 surplus wreaths and nothing to do with them so late in the season. Grateful that his success was due in large part to the sacrifice of American troops, and remembering the rows of white tombstones, he put in a call to Arlington Cemetery. With a handful of volunteers, they drove a truck load of wreaths to Arlington and spent the next six hours distributing them on graves, a tradition continued quietly for years by a man who did not seek publicity. The 2005 photo sealed his destiny.

This Saturday volunteers will lay wreaths at American military cemeteries around the world. National Cemetery in Staunton will be included as they have in previous years. On each wreath will be a tag that reads: Through the generosity and actions of hundreds of thousands of volunteers, this wreath is donated and placed on the grave of a True American Hero. Wreaths Across America ... we make it our business to NEVER FORGET."

It's once again a reminder that freedom is not free and that Americans have not forgotten. That is the legacy of Morrill Worcester and his Maine balsam Christmas wreaths.

Wreaths Across America ... Staunton National Cemetery

"Freedom is not free."
U.S. National Cemetery - Staunton, Virginia
Interments: known - 282; unknown - 521

Each wreath, made of balsam fir, has a tag that reads:
Through the generosity and actions of hundreds of thousands of volunteers, this wreath is donated and placed on the grave of a True American Hero.
WREATHSACROSSAMERICA.ORG
P.O. Box 256
Harrington, Maine 04643
"We make it our business to NEVER FORGET."

As a bitter wind blew on a deceptively sunny day, SWAC Husband and I visited the Staunton National Cemetery Wednesday to pay respects both to those American heroes who have been laid to rest there ... and to Wreaths Across America for their generosity in providing hundreds of thousands of wreaths to place on cemeteries nationwide. "Freedom is not free."

Photos by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
16 December 2009

Wreaths Across America ... NY GOE

Volunteers across America helped place wreaths in national cemeteries. Here is the post of the New York Gathering of Eagles chapter from earlier this month. Thank you.

Wreaths Across America ... freedom isn't free

One man's mission to remember that freedom isn't free...

Worcester Wreath’s involvement with the Arlington National Cemetery project was inspired at the early age of 12 years old when, as a Bangor Daily News paper boy, Morrill won a trip to the Nation’s Capital. It was a trip he would never forget, and Arlington made an indelible impression. In later life, he recognized that his success as businessman was in large part, due to the values of this Nation and the Veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Never a veteran himself, for fifteen years now Morrill has committed himself to remembering and honoring those who keep this country safe, with a simple wreath laid down for the holidays.

Born in Jonesport, Maine, in 1949, the fifth child of Wilbur and Florence Worcester, Morrill was raised as an early entrepreneur on the farms of his youth, and graduated from Narraguagus High School (Harrington, ME) in 1968. Morrill and his wife Karen, reside in Columbia Falls, and are the parents of six children. He is a 1973 graduate of the University of Maine, with a Bachelor’s of Science in Animal and Pre-Veterinary Science.

With over 35 years of business experience, the diverse ventures of Morrill Worcester make up one of the great entrepreneurial stories in the economy of Eastern Maine. From agriculture, manufacturing, construction and power generation to professional basketball and industrial baking, his collective enterprises past and present make up the second largest employer in Washington County.

Current operations include Worcester Wreath Company, the World’s largest producer of holiday balsam products and a top vendor/supplier to LL Bean for 25 years; County Concrete & Asphalt Co.; Worcester Peat Co. (860 acre peat bog and harvesting operation that supplies horticultural products up and down the east coast); and since 1993, Worcester Energy Co. including its 25.85 MW biomass power plant in Deblois, Maine. To learn more about the Worcester wreaths, check out L.L. Bean Holiday Gift Shop.

H/T to Mom

Wreaths Across America for our fallen heroes

Over the years you have probably seen the stunning photos of thousands of wreaths adorning the graves of America’s veterans laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

The tradition began 17 years ago when Morril Worcester, president of Worcester Wreath Company, began adorning the graves of our heroes with wreaths at Christmas time. Mr. Worcester wanted to spread the tradition across the country, and so began the non-profit, Wreaths Across America, last year.

The goal is to have a wreath on every veteran’s grave. Move America Forward has joined hands with Wreaths Across America in this noble effort, and we need your help to fulfill the hope of remembering every veteran who went to his or her eternal resting place after serving our country.

Remembering those who served our country is simple. Sponsoring a wreath costs only $15 for the honor of recognizing the sacrifices of our veterans whom we must always remember.

After sponsoring the wreaths, your contribution to this great effort is done. We are working with Wreaths Across America to ensure that each and every wreath you sponsor is placed with love and respect on the graves of those who rest at national and state cemeteries across the country.

Remembering our fallen troops and those who served our country with great dignity and pride is especially important during the holidays, when we spend time giving thanks and celebrating the spirit of dedication and love for one another.

Important: You must include a special code to link your sponsorship to Move America Forward -- "CAMAF001."

Move America Forward is proud to participate in this important project. Sponsoring wreaths will take only a few minutes of your time.

Thank you for your generosity and support of our troops and the memories of our veterans. And God Bless our brave troops

Catherine Moy, Executive Director
Move America Forward