Wreaths Across America 2014

On Saturday, Dec.13, my husband and I were privileged to volunteer to help lay wreaths at
 Arlington National Cemetery as part of Wreaths Across America

It was an uplifting, awe-inspiring, and humbling experience. They had estimated 25,000 volunteers, but I think the number of people who showed up exceeded that! Their goal this year was to cover every headstone in the cemetery, and they achieved that goal. It was breathtaking to see the endless rows of the graves of our fallen heroes with the wreaths on them.

The link to my Flickr album of the pictures we took is  HERE  

Wreaths Across America Dec.13,2014

National Wreaths Across America day is Saturday, Dec.13,2014

This year is also the 150th anniversary of Arlington National Cemetery.

Wreaths Across America hopes this year to place wreaths on all veteran's graves in Arlington, in honor of that anniversary. But they need each of us to help. You can read more about this at

Arlington Appeal

Wreaths Across America

Since 2006, my husband and I have participated in the wreath laying ceremony each year with
Wreaths Across America

 (except for 2010, when we attended his son's wedding :)

We've either assisted in wreath laying locally at Staunton National Cemetery

 

 

or we've traveled up to Arlington National Cemetery to help place wreaths there

 

This year, the Wreaths Across America Remembrance ceremony will be on

DECEMBER 15 at NOON (EST)

 

and you can find out if there is a ceremony at a location near you by checking HERE

 

 

Unfortunately for us, my husband will be having some surgery in early December, so we'll be unable to attend a ceremony this year....However....

 

there's still a way we could support the Wreaths Across America mission, and I wanted to share that in case you might also be interested.

 

You can  simply  Sponsor a Wreath 

 

or you can choose to purchase a wreath for yourself and at the same time sponsor a wreath, with either the Patriot Pair  or the Military Tribute Patriot Pair

 

 

Whether you choose to participate in a ceremony, or are able to sponsor a wreath, this is truly a beautiful way to honor and remember our fallen heroes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wreaths Across America Theme for 2012

The Wreaths Across America Theme for 2012 was announced awhile back and it's

“Then, Now, and Forever – Let’s Make It Personal”

If you have an idea for an image or graphic that conveys the 2012 theme of “Then, Now, and Forever – Let’s Make It Personal” –they invite you to Drop them a Note   

Help Wreaths Across America Cover Arlington

DSCN0958, a photo by kasee102 on Flickr.(from Wreaths Across America at Arlington in 2008)

Help Wreaths Across America Cover Arlington

2011 marks the 20th anniversary of Morrill Worcesters first trip to Arlington National Cemetery with donated wreaths for the headstones of our Nation’s veterans. And for the 20th year observance, Wreaths Across America has made it a goal to cover all of Arlington – over 220,000 wreaths in all sections of its hallowed grounds.



"It is a big task, and with just weeks to go we still need a lot of help or we are going to come up short,” said WAA Executive Director Karen Worcester – whose team is hard at work planning not only for the events at Arlington, but at over 650 other locations nationwide.

"The Christmas They Never Had"

It's Friday, time for a reminder post about Wreaths Across America's mission in 2011 to cover all 330,000+ graves at Arlington National Cemetery with wreaths for
The Christmas They Never Had

                              (picture from 2008 Wreath Laying at Arlington National Cemetery)

Giving 'The Christmas They Never Had'

From the  Wreaths Across America website comes  an update on the 2011 mission to cover all 330,000+  graves at Arlington National cemetery  Giving the Christmas They Never Had

"The Christmas They Never Had"

This year, the 20th anniversary of wreath-laying at Arlington, Wreaths Across America and the Worcester Wreath company has permission to lay wreaths on the over 330,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery.
To read more about this, go to "The Christmas They Never Had"



                                       (picture from the 2008 Wreath laying)

"The Christmas They Never Had"

                     (photo from 2008 wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery)
It's Friday, time for a reminder about Wreaths Across America's program to attempt to lay wreaths on all 330,000 + graves at Arlington
"The Christmas They Never Had"

And this is the way the wreaths would be laid upon the graves....one wreath at a time, by volunteers.
To honor and remember those who gave their lives in service to our country.

"The Christmas They Never Had"

                                    (Photo from 2008 Wreath Laying at Arlington National Cemetery)

Time for a Friday reminder of  Wreaths Across America's program to attempt to cover all the graves of our nation's fallen heroes... "The Christmas They Never Had"  in December 2011 at Arlington.

"The Christmas They Never Had"

                                                                  
                       (Picture from 2008 Wreath Laying in Arlington)

                       It's Friday, time for a reminder about Wreaths Across America's hopes to cover
all 330,000 + graves at Arlington in December 2011
                          "The Christmas They Never Had"

Friday Reminder "The Christmas They Never Had" Wreaths Across America

                                      (Picture from 2008 Wreath Laying in Arlington National Cemetery)

It's time again for a Friday reminder about Wreaths Across America's
"The Christmas They Never Had"
to attempt to cover all 330,000+ graves at Arlington National Cemetery in December 2011.

Please spread the word!

'The Christmas They Never Had'

                                  (Photo from 2008 Wreath Laying at Arlington National Cemetery)

It's Friday, time for a reminder about 'The Christmas They Never Had'  which is the mission this year of Worcester Wreath Company and Wreaths Across America to lay 330,000+ wreaths to cover all the graves of our country's fallen heroes in Arlington.

"The Christmas They Never Had"

                                          (2008 Wreath Laying in Arlington National Cemetery)

Posting another picture from the 2008 wreath laying event we attended in 2008, to remind everyone of the Wreaths Across America project for 2011, to cover all 330,000+ graves of our fallen in Arlington National Cemetery . To read more about this  click HERE

"The Christmas They Never Had"

                                          (Arlington Cemetery 2008 wreath-laying)

This year (2011) will be the 20th anniversary of wreaths going to Arlington National Cemetery from the Worcester Wreath Company,
and if you check out the Wreaths Across America website  you will see that they have permission to lay wreaths on  All 330,000+ graves this year

This will of course be a Huge undertaking....so the time to start spreading the word about this is Now.

Please go by the website, read more about this theme of "The Christmas They Never Had" and what Wreaths Across America hopes to do this year.....and then pass the word along, please!

I know in 2008 my husband and I went to Arlington to participate in the wreath laying there, and it was an unbelievable event to be a part of.  I think that year there were only about 10,000 wreaths?  so I can only dimly imagine what it would look like to have the entire cemetery covered......but I feel certain it would be beautiful!

Wreaths Across America~Help Sponsor a Wreath for Section 60 at Arlington

For the past several years my husband and I have participated both locally and at Arlington
in Wreaths Across America


(2007 Staunton National Cemetery)

(2008 Arlington National Cemetery)

(2009 Staunton National Cemetery)

On December 11th at noon this year, volunteers all over our country will once again be laying wreaths on the graves of our fallen heroes. (we will be unable this year to participate, we'll be attending my stepson's wedding)
To find a location near you  where you can volunteer to participate, you can click on this link at the
Wreaths Across America website.

and also check out the tenative schedule for the 2010 Escort to Arlington   The Patriot Guard Riders will be joining in the escort.

But the main reason I'm posting is that on this Update on Section 60  the total number of wreaths sponsored for section 60 is 4800...of the 9,000 needed. Section 60 is the section of Arlington where many of our fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan lie, and this year Wreaths Across America had hoped to have wreaths sponsored for Section 60  WishUponAHero

The cut-off for sponsoring a wreath has been extended to Nov. 29, you can see the sponsorship options here

Spread the word, will you?

Coming Oct. 16.....Wreaths Across America joins Macy's Shop For A Cause

From Wreaths Across America

posted on their blog

Wreaths Across America Joins Macy's Shop For A Cause

On Saturday October 16th, shoppers will be able to get a great deals at Macy's Stores when they Shop For A Cause with Wreaths Across America. Cause Coupons are available from Wreaths Across America for $5 with savings of 10%, 20%, and up to 25% off your Macy's purchase (see coupon for details).


For each coupon purchased, the $5 will go to Wreaths Across America and its mission to place wreaths on veterans headstones at one of over 500+ participating locations nationwide.

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Wreaths Across America 2009 at Staunton National Cemetery,Staunton,VA

Once again, my husband and I were privileged to attend the wreath laying ceremony for Wreaths Across America at Staunton National Cemetery in Staunton, VA which is about a half hour south of us.

My husband Tony took the pictures, I have them posted on Flickr ( but since my Photostream changes) I also have a link to the photo album of the pics on Facebook

The ceremony as always was moving, and the Civil Air Patrol again did a good job of being in charge of the ceremony.

The good folks from area VFW's donated 850 wreaths! so this was the first year since Wreaths Across America went local that the entire cemetery was blanketed with wreaths after the initial ceremony laying wreaths for each of the service branches, and in honor of the POW/MIA's.

(quite a difference from the very first year the wreath laying went local, when there were only 6 wreaths on the graves.)

A lot of folks showed up......everyone from veterans to active duty service members, to the Boy Scouts and the ladies of the VFW's.

After the ceremony, everyone pitched in to start placing the wreaths.......quietly, and reverently.

This ceremony is always a beautiful way to honor and remember those who have served our country and given their lives while doing so.

Get Ready for Wreaths Across America 2009

DSCN0932
Originally uploaded by kasee102

Picture from Arlington National Cemetery,Arlington Wreath Project,2008
Above is a picture from Arlington National Cemetery last year, when my husband and I participated in Wreaths Across America there.

In the years prior to that, we've gone to our local National cemetery to participate, you can find a slideshow I did from our participation in 2007 here

This year's Wreath Laying will take place on December 12 at noon across the country, you can find out more (and locations near you) at the main Wreaths Across America website.

Whether you participate at Arlington, or at a local National cemetery near you? We have always found this to be a very moving and meaningful way to honor our fallen veterans.

Arlington Wreath Project 2008-The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Tony took a short video of the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.