The day after Veterans Day is a good day to mention Wreaths Across America, a non-profit organization that organizes volunteers who place wreaths on veterans’ tombstones on a specified day in December.
This year National Wreaths Across America Day is Saturday, 14 December 2024. On that day, volunteers will gather at more than 4,000 participating locations across the country to remember and honor our nation’s heroes, one wreath at a time.
Arlington National Cemetery, 2010, Flickr [1]
The mission of Wreaths across America is threefold: Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve. Teach the next generation the value of freedom.
Remember: Sponsor a veteran’s wreath in honor of or in memory of a loved one who served in our armed forces. Or sponsor a wreath and allow Wreaths across America to designate a recipient among the millions of veterans who rest in honored glory.
Honor: Volunteer with Wreaths across America as they honor our veterans throughout the year. Opportunities include laying wreaths locally, leading a sponsorship group, or coordinating a ceremony location.
Teach: Invite friends, family, coworkers, and organizations to join Wreaths across America as they strive to honor every veteran, helping to support and spread the word of their mission.
You can volunteer several ways: sponsor a wreath, volunteer, partner with Wreaths across America on National Wreaths across America Day, or sponsor a specific cemetery or Local Sponsorship Group.
There are several ways to sponsor a wreath or any number of wreaths:
Pair a Wreath: Pair a sponsored wreath with a gift wreath which is delivered to your home or to a loved-one or friend.
In Honor and Memory Of: Sponsor wreaths in honor of living veterans or in memory of those who have passed, with the option to include email or mailed gift cards. [2]
Wreaths Across America also has merchandise and gear for sale on their website, so you can show support, spread information about the organization, and for gift giving.
Their live balsam wreaths come from the Worcester Wreath Company, a family farm in Maine that is also a proud sponsor of Wreaths across America. The wreaths are made in Maine and each comes with a red velvet ribbon.
I usually purchase their Pair a Wreath. I receive a wreath for myself and Wreaths Across America designates a recipient for the other wreath I purchase, my sponsored wreath.
Herbert & Florence (Schumm) Miller, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio (2022 photo by Karen)
I ordered my Wreaths Across America wreath pair last week. I will place my wreath at my parents’ gravestone, in honor of my dad, a WWII veteran. The wreath I sponsored will be placed at a tombstone somewhere on National Wreaths Across America Day.
What a special way to honor our nation’s veterans and decorate a gravesite with a beautiful Christmas wreath as well.
[1] Flickr photo, taken 11 Dec 2010, uploaded 14 Dec 2010, https://www.flickr.com/photos/walmartcorporate/with/5262055852/ , Creative Commons License, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/# .
[2] Their website: https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/
