Photo By Nell King | Ten-year-old Bailey Butler gazes at the wreaths laid at each grave site Dec. 12 at...... read more read more
ARLINGTON, Va. - For the second year in a row, every single headstone and the columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery is covered with a seasonal green wreath sporting a red bow, thanks to the generosity of the supporters and volunteers of Wreaths Across America.
“We are humbled by the outpouring of support that helped ensure that no headstone stood uncovered this year at Arlington National Cemetery,” said Wreaths Across America Board Chairman Wayne Hanson.
“Wreaths Across America is honored to be joined in this sacred place by so many veterans, volunteers and family members as we pay tribute to our fallen and remember their sacrifice on behalf of a grateful nation.”
Wreaths Across America Founder Morrill Worchester, a wreath maker from Maine, originally donated 5,000 wreaths to the cemetery back in 1992 and arranged for trucks to transport them from Maine to Arlington.
Since then, the nonprofit has expanded to include more than 1,000 fundraising groups in all 50 states, who place wreaths at more than 900 cemeteries, military memorials and other sites across the country, including Arlington National Cemetery.
Thousands fanned out across Arlington’s hallowed and sacred ground to place the wreaths on an unseasonably warm Dec. 13, the day designated by Congress as Wreaths Across America Day in 2008.
Army veteran Bob Riley stepped back and rendered a solemn salute after laying a wreath on a headstone marked simply “Unknown.”
“Whoever this is, he should never be forgotten or his sacrifice not remembered,” he said.
Riley, who is from Alexandria, Va., has been volunteering at Wreaths Across America for three years.
A more than mile-long convoy of vehicles, including tractor trailers, motorcycles, buses and cars carrying veterans, family members of the fallen and supporters delivered the wreaths in the early Saturday morning, after making the journey to the National Capital Region from Maine.
Among the volunteers who reverently placed the wreaths were husband and wife Monica and Edward Thomas from Montgomery County, Md. The couple said it was their first time volunteering at the event and that they planned return in 2016.
“This has been wonderful,” Monica said. “Look how many people are here to take part in this.”
“I wasn’t in the military, but my grandpa served in World War II,” added Edward. “I feel like I am honoring him, along with everyone who is buried here, by doing this.”
Also included in the day’s events were wreath laying ceremonies at the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy, the U.S.S. Maine memorial and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Commander Col. Mike Henderson and his family were also among the volunteers who placed wreaths.
“This is fantastic,” said Henderson as he looked around at the volunteers as they moved from headstone to headstone, adorning each one with a wreath. “It is an honor to do this.”
JBM-HH Command Sgt. Maj. Randall Woods also participated.
The wreaths will remain in place until Jan. 23, when volunteers will remove all WAA wreaths from the cemetery. No formal sign-up or registration is required to help with the cleanup. There will be a short volunteer instructional briefing at 8:30 a.m. at the McClellan Arch Gate. Wreath cleanup begins around 8:45 a.m.
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.17.2015 15:27 |
| Story ID: | 184811 |
| Location: | ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 91 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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