Each December, volunteers nationwide gather in cemeteries, wreaths in hand, to lay wreaths on military graves. Although this simple gesture lasts only a moment, it has meaning for many generations.
Laying the wreath involves placing a balsam wreath at the grave of a veteran and saying that person’s name aloud. This small ritual – repeated at more than 4,000 participating locations nationwide – has become a powerful expression of remembrance in America.
Wreaths Across America (WAA) wasn’t planned as a national movement. Instead, it began with a problem most businesses hope to avoid: a product surplus.
The History of Wreaths Across America
In 1992, the Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine, finished the holiday season with a surplus of balsam wreaths. Rather than store or discard them, the company donated the extras to Arlington National Cemetery. Volunteers then quietly placed the wreaths on soldiers’ graves, without fanfare or pictures for social media views.
More than a decade later, a photograph captured the sight of snow-covered headstones, each marked with a green wreath and red bow. The image spread across the internet, resonating with veterans, military families and communities across the country. What had begun as a single act of generosity grew rapidly into an ongoing tradition.
In 2007, Wreaths Across America became an official nonprofit organization. Today, millions of volunteers participate annually. But behind the exponential growth of the new tradition lies a simple truth: a meaningful ritual will find its way to the people who need it.
Why the Wreaths Across America Ritual Endures
At its heart, Wreaths Across America is a teaching event as much as a commemorative one. The organization’s mission – “Remember. Honor. Teach.” – reflects the multigenerational nature of the tradition. Parents bring their children, veterans guide students and families gather year after year to take part in the ceremony.
This type of ritual endures because it transforms abstract values – such as service, sacrifice and gratitude – into a more tangible experience that can be shared. Young children may not yet grasp the enormity and selflessness of military service, but they can:
- Understand the care and intention it takes to place a wreath
- Learn a servicemember’s name
- Discover the weight of responsibility and national pride
In this way, Wreaths Across America creates continuity through tradition. It connects the past to the present and invites future generations to take up the mantle of remembrance.
Each wreath becomes a symbol of respect, but also a teaching tool. The wreaths create a moment where families talk about history, military service and the freedom secured by other people.
The Effort That Makes Wreaths Across America Possible
The ceremony of laying the wreaths appears peaceful, but the work required to support it spans months and involves thousands of people. The scale of Wreaths Across America is supported by remarkable coordination, much of it unseen.
Wreath Preparation
The balsam wreaths originate in Maine, where they are crafted with care by seasonal workers and volunteers. Each wreath is hand-assembled, incorporating 10 balsam bouquets that represent honor, sacrifice and integrity.
The Honor Fleet
From Maine, volunteer truck drivers known as the “Honor Fleet” transport the wreaths across thousands of miles. Many drivers specifically choose this mission, viewing it as a personal way to perform a service for former servicemembers. The drivers depart in convoys, delivering wreaths to communities nationwide.
Local Coordination
Once the wreaths arrive, local volunteers organize the placement ceremonies. Many participants involve:
- Veterans’ organizations
- Schools (like APU and AMU)
- Civic groups
- Families
Cemetery coordinators map out the grounds and work with community volunteers to ensure every veteran is honored.
Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future
Though Wreaths of America is a national event, its impact is deeply local. Each participating site reflects its community’s identity – whether it’s a small-town cemetery with a few dozen volunteers or a large metropolitan ceremony drawing hundreds of people.
The schools that take part give students a hands-on opportunity to learn about military history and civic responsibility. Veterans attend to honor their brothers and sisters in service. Families come to remember loved ones. Even those without a personal connection participate to express their gratitude.
The true power of Wreaths Across America lies not only in the number of wreaths placed, but in the meaning behind them. A wreath is a simple object, but in December it becomes a symbol: a gesture that says, “You are remembered. You mattered. We honor your service.”
For the volunteers who return year after year, the ritual offers something else – continuity. It’s a moment to pause amid the holiday rush and take part in a memorable tradition.
What began with leftover wreaths in Maine has become a national act of gratitude. From the hands that assemble each wreath to the drivers who deliver them and the families and veterans who place them – every step reflects a shared commitment to remembrance.
This December 13, as communities gather once again, each wreath laid during Wreaths Across America continues the promise that no servicemember will ever be forgotten. Sign up today to participate or to sponsor a wreath.
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