Thousands of volunteers around the country are preparing for the annual wreath-laying on veterans' graves tomorrow, as the nonprofit Wreaths Across America carries out its annual mission for the 23rd year.
Wreaths are laid at veterans' graves at Arlington National Cemetery and about 900 other locations around the country. Organizers have estimated about 725,000 wreaths will be placed nationwide.
A convoy of more than 25 vehicles, including tractor-trailers carrying 230,000 wreaths, left Harrington, Maine, on Dec. 7, and has arrived in the Washington, D.C. area. They'll pull into Arlington National Cemetery at about 8 a.m. Saturday.
Organizers plan to place a wreath at each of the 230,000 graves, in honor of the cemetery's 150th anniversary. With an extra 87,000 graves, that's an increase of about 35 percent over last year's effort at Arlington, at an overall cost of about $3.5 million, donated by the public. The organization is still short of its goal, but will continue to accept donations until midnight tonight at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org, said spokeswoman Amber Caron.
"In past years, when placing the last wreath, we've seen bare markers and we're reminded of the veterans who sacrificed so much for their country who are not being recognized," said Wayne Hanson, Wreaths Across America chairman, in a statement announcing the expanded effort.
The non-profit organization was founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. Worcester is matching every $15 donation for wreaths to get to the goal of laying a wreath on every grave at Arlington.
The opening ceremony at McClellan Gate on McClellan Drive at Arlington National Cemetery will be at 9 a.m. Dec. 13; following instructions to volunteers, wreath-laying throughout the cemetery will continue from 9:30 to noon.Organizers are urging volunteers to take the Metro, and to arrive early, as more than 25,000 volunteers are expected.
To find the location of a wreath-laying event at a cemetery in your area, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org. The Veterans Affairs Department website also has a listing of locations and times.
The convoy to Arlington 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. They've made stops along the way at schools, veterans' homes and in communities to share Wreaths Across America's mission: Remember, Honor, Teach.
Karen has covered military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times for more than 30 years, and is co-author of a chapter on media coverage of military families in the book "A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families." She previously worked for newspapers in Guam, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Fla., and Athens, Ga.
