IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wreaths Across America
Cemeteries all over the country honored deceased veterans on Saturday, Dec. 17, by placing holiday wreaths on their graves and holding memorials, usually naming aloud each person being honored. The memorial celebrations were part of a national effort known as Wreaths Across America Day.
“Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, our mission to remember, honor and teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as more than 3,400 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad,” said a spokesperson for the sponsoring organization, Wreaths Across America, Inc. (WAA), located in Columbia Falls, Maine.
People throughout the country donate funds to the organization to produce the wreaths and deliver them to participating cemeteries. Many trucking companies donate their drivers’ time and vehicles to make these deliveries.
Veterans from the Revolutionary War to present day conflicts are remembered in the wreath-laying ceremonies. “Our veterans are devoted sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers,” he said. “They come from all backgrounds in life to place those lives on the line for our freedoms. There are millions of individual stories to tell.”
He went on to say, “We understand we have Veterans Day in the fall and Memorial Day in the spring, but our service members sacrifice their time and safety every single day of the year to preserve our freedoms. In many homes, there is an empty seat for one who is serving or one who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. There is no better time to express our appreciation than during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.”
This year more than 2.1 million Veterans Remembrance Wreaths were placed. All the local cemeteries that participated were able to secure more than enough wreaths to honor each fallen veteran, thanks to the funds raised locally.
All nine National Cemeteries in Florida, including the Sarasota National Cemetery, participated in this year’s event. Other local cemeteries participating included Gulf Pines Memorial Park and Lemon Bay Historical Cemetery, both in Englewood. There also was a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Wall in Punta Gorda, and a wreath-laying at both Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery and at Lt. Carl Bailey Cemetery, both in Punta Gorda.
While coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies each December is a big part of what the WAA does, its mission is broader. It touches the lives of thousands of school, scout, civic and religious groups across the country through fundraising for wreath sponsorships.
WAA also is committed to teaching younger generations about the value of their freedoms and the importance of honoring those who sacrificed to protect those freedoms. The organization offers learning tools, interactive media projects and opportunities for youth groups to participate in the events. They also work to create opportunities to connect the “Greatest Generation” with the “Generation of Hope,” passing on inspirational stories from the World War II veterans to the leaders of the future.
