Wreaths Arrive at Arlington National Cemetery

UNITED STATES

12.12.2014

Courtesy Video

Arlington National Cemetery   

Wreaths Across America trucks have arrived at Arlington National Cemetery. Tomorrow, approximately 25,000 volunteers will place nearly 230,000 wreaths on every grave site. Video: B Roll and Truck Driver (Oshkosh, Wisconsin) SB
MEDIA ADVISORY
PHOTO/VIDEO OPPORTUNITY
NATIONAL WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY ARLINGTON EVENTS ANNOUNCED

What: Wreaths Across America (WAA), along with more than 25,000 volunteers, will lay remembrance wreaths on the headstones of veterans laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on National Wreaths Across America Day, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014.
This is WAA’s 23rd year laying wreaths at our nation’s cemetery, and it marks the largest number of wreaths ever sponsored and delivered — including the laying of the two-millionth wreath nationwide, to honor Pvt. William Christman, the first solider to be buried at Arlington. Throughout the day, visitors can use the ANC Explorer mobile app to stay up to date with the latest information on wreath availability and ceremony details.
A convoy of more than 25 vehicles left Harrington, Maine on Sunday, Dec. 7, to begin the six-day journey to Arlington National Cemetery. It includes tractor-trailers, donated by trucking companies and driven by volunteer drivers, as well as buses, motorcycles and cars transporting veterans, families of fallen soldiers and supporters. The convoy is making stops along the way at schools, at veterans’ homes and in communities in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, to share WAA’s mission to Remember, Honor, Teach.
Where: Arlington National Cemetery, McClellan Gate, McClellan Drive, Arlington, Va.
Who: Morrill and Karen Worcester, founder and executive director (respectively), Wreaths Across America
Jack E. Lechner, superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery
Maine Governor Paul LePage and First Lady Ann LePage
Brad Bentley, president, Truckload Carriers Association (TCA)
Lindsay Lawler, country singer and TCA’s Highway Angel spokesperson and songwriter Chris Roberts
American Gold Star families

When: Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014
7-8 a.m. Media check in outside of Welcome Center along Memorial Avenue
8 a.m. Arlington National Cemetery gates open to the public
8:30/8:45 a.m. Ceremonial parade of trucks/vehicles arrives at Arlington’s main entrance
9:00 a.m. Opening ceremony at McClellan Gate, McClellan Drive (between Sections 33 and 12)
NOTE: A designated press area will be provided near the front of the stage.
9:30 a.m.-noon Wreath-laying throughout cemetery (map provided to media upon check-in)
11 a.m. Wreath-laying at President Kennedy’s grave by Patriot Guard Riders
11:30 a.m. Wreath-laying at USS Maine mast (by Maine Gov. Paul LePage and First Lady Ann LePage)
Noon Wreath-laying at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
1 p.m. (TBD) Two-millionth wreath to be placed by WAA founder Morrill Worcester on Pvt. William Christman’s grave, cemetery’s first military burial (Section 27)
Registration required: Media interested in covering this event must register. Please register by 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 11, by emailing [e-mail]. Networks interested in bringing satellite trucks into facility must coordinate with ANC staff by Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Parking: We highly encourage Metro use. Media are welcome to park on Memorial Avenue beginning at 7 a.m., in designated press parking along the street. A parking pass will be provided upon press check-in. No vehicles will be allowed into the cemetery on the day of the event.

For more information about covering this event, please contact Amber Caron at [phone] or [e-mail], or contact Arlington National Cemetery Public Affairs at [phone].
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 hundreds of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. For more information, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
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• Date Taken: 12.12.2014
• Date Posted: 12.12.2014 17:22
• Category: B-Roll
• Video ID: 381480
• VIRIN: 121214-A-ZZ999-001
• Filename: DOD_102146493
• Length: 00:01:14
• Location: US