Wreaths Across America™ - Remember, Honor, Teach
Wreaths Across America™ (WAA) is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2007 to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine Morrill Worcester, in 1992.
•1992: First wreaths (5,000) donated by Morrill Worcester and Worcester Wreath Co.
•2005: Iconic photo of wreaths in snow became a viral sensation
•2007: Wreaths Across America formed as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
•Organization governed by board of directors. Day-to-day operations managed by Executive Director Karen Worcester.
•2012: 1millionth wreath placed at Arlington National Cemetery
•2014: For the first time, every headstone at Arlington National Cemetery received a wreath — 227,000 in total.
•2016: 25th year that wreaths will be placed at Arlington National Cemetery
•WAA's mission — Remember, Honor, Teach — is carried out in part by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington, as well as at veterans' cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.
•The organization has since expanded to include more than 1,500 local fundraising groups in all 50 states, representing more than 1,000 participating locations, along with our nation's cemetery at Arlington.
•Since 2008, Congress has issued a proclamation officially recognizing "National Wreaths Across America Day" each December. This year, it will be held on Sat., December 17, 2016.
2015 Numbers:
•901,000 remembrance wreaths were placed in total across the country, 240,815 of which were at Arlington National Cemetery.
•Nearly 70,000 volunteers at Arlington National Cemetery, with close to a million volunteers participating at 1,108 locations nationwide.
•168 trucking companies and professional drivers helped deliver the wreaths.
What We Do
REMEMBER.
•WAA's annual pilgrimage from Harrington, Maine, to Arlington National Cemetery has become known as the world's largest veterans' parade, stopping at schools, monuments, veterans' homes and communities all along the way to remind people how important it is to remember, honor and teach.
•Special memorials are held at Pearl Harbor, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
•The HART Ceremony (Honoring Allies and Remembering Together) is conducted each year to honor veterans of our nation's allies in ceremonies on international border-crossing bridges between Calais, Maine, and St. Stephen, New Brunswick; Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario; and Sweetwater, Montana, and the Alaskan/Canadian border.
•WAA hosts statehouse ceremonies in nearly all 50 states.
HONOR.
•WAA conducts several programs to honor our veterans, including our popular "Thanks-A-Million" campaign, which distributes FREE thank-you cards to people all over the country to share with veterans as a simple thank-you for their service.
•The group participates in veterans' events throughout the year and has a veteran liaison on staff to work with local veterans' organizations, as well as public outreach through Veterans Day and Memorial Day programs, public service announcements, press coverage and the WAA website.
TEACH.
•WAA is committed to teaching younger generations about the value of their freedoms and the importance of honoring those who sacrificed so much to protect those freedoms. We offer learning tools, interactive media projects and opportunities for schools, 4-H, scouts and other youth groups to participate in our efforts.
•A downloadable curriculum and books are available to help schoolchildren appreciate the roles our veterans played in preserving their freedoms. These materials are designed to encourage the direct involvement of local veterans.
Why do you do what you do?
We understand we have Veterans Day in the fall and Memorial Day in the spring, but our servicemen and - women 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. We hope you will join us at any of our more than 1,000 participating locations, to show our veterans and their families that we will not forget. We will never forget.
Why does WAA make so many stops on its way to deliver the wreaths to Arlington?
In 2006, it was decided that instead of a quick trip to Arlington, the Patriot Guard Riders would escort the wreath trucks down the East Coast and take several days to make the trip. This would allow stops at schools, monuments, veterans' homes and communities, and give the group an opportunity to promote its mission:
Remember, Honor, Teach.
Why do you use live wreaths?
Wreaths Across America does not "decorate" headstones. We are honoring all veterans and active military members by placing live wreaths on the headstones of veterans. The fresh evergreens are a symbol used for centuries to recognize honor, and a living tribute renewed annually. We want people to see the tradition as a living memorial to veterans and their families.
What are the sources of funding for WAA?
We receive no government funding. National Wreaths Across America Day and other events are made possible by thousands of volunteers who organize local ceremonies, raise funds to sponsor wreaths and participate in the events. Morrill Worcester of Worcester Wreath Co. — the founder of WAA — continues to be a major donor of wreaths each year, but the majority of the cost for the program is paid for by individual wreath sponsors, corporate donors and volunteer truck drivers and companies.
Does WAA have a religious or political affiliation?
Wreaths Across America is not affiliated with any religion or political party. It is our mission to remember and honor every fallen military service member during the holiday season, no matter what is happening in the nation or overseas.
How can I get involved?
There are a number of ways for volunteers to get involved. Please keep in mind that there is NO COST to attend or participate in a Wreaths Across America event.
•National Wreaths Across America Day
•Escort of wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery (or any of the other locations featuring wreath escorts)
•Statehouse Ceremony — in nearly all 50 states and at our nation's capital
•HART Ceremony (Honoring Allies and Remembering Together)
•"Thanks-A-Million" handout card program, to thank our veterans and active military members
•WAA Education Program — work with our downloadable materials in your local schools
You can also volunteer to have another location in your state participate in the national remembrance ceremony, or you can start or work with a local group to raise funds for the wreaths, for your local ceremony or for Arlington.
For more information about this year's events, to sign up to be a volunteer or to sponsor a wreath, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WAAHQ and follow us on Twitter @WreathsAcross.
In 2015 Professional Truck Drivers and these Trucking Companies donated their time and trucks to deliver Wreaths Across America:
HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/4-ds-trucking-inc" 4 D'sTrucking Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/anwebber-inc" A.N.Webber, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/aaacooper" AAA Cooper Memphis; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/abilene-motor-express" Abilene Motor Express; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/affiliated-movers" Affiliated Movers; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/affordable-moving-solutions" Affordable Moving Solutions; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/allen-lund-co" Allen Lund Company; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/american-central-transport-inc" American Central Transport; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/apple-transfer" Apple Transfer; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/armellini-express-lines-inc" Armellini Express Lines, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/arpin-van-lines" Arpin Van Lines - Steven Meyer; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/asa-logistics" ASA Logistics; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/arrow-truck-sales" Arrow Truck Sales; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/ata" ATA - Share the Road; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/barnstormer-express-llc" Barnstormer Express LLC; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/bay-bay-transfer" Bay & Bay Transfer; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/baylor-trucking" Baylor Trucking; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/best-cartage-inc" Best Cartage, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/bestway-express-inc" Bestway Express, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/big-g-express" Big G Express; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/blue-ridge-transport-llc" Blue Ridge Transport, LLC; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/bose-corporation" Bose Corporation; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/boyd-bros-transportation-inc" Boyd Bros. Transportation, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/boyle-brothers-inc" Boyle Brothers Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/britton-transport" Britton Transport; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/brown-trucking-company" Brown Trucking Company; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/buchheit-logistics" Buchheit Logistics; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/ch-robinson-worldwide-inc" C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/cr-england-inc" C.R. England, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/calark-inc" CalArk, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/campells-express" Campell's Express; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/cargo-transporters-inc" HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/carter-express" Carter Express; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/cary-moving-storage" Carey Moving & Storage; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/central-oregon-truck-co-inc" Central Oregon Truck Co. Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/chapman-trucking" Chapman Trucking; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/chief-cornerstones-company" Chief Cornerstone's Company; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/cianbro-corporation" Cianbro Corporation; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/city-wide-aaron-schreckengost" City Wide – Aaron Schreckengost; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/classic-carriers" Classic Carriers; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/convoy-systems-llc" Convoy Systems LLC; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/conway-truckload" Con-way Truckload; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/covenant-transport" Covenant Transport; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/crum-logistics-services" Crum Logistics Services; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/dm-bowman" D.M. Bowman; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/daly-movers-inc" Daly Movers Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/dart-transit-company" Dart Transit Company; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/delaware-technical-community-college" Delaware Technical & Community College; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/delhaize-america" Delhaize America; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/dick-butler" Dick Butler; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/don-hummer-trucking-corporation" Don Hummer Trucking Corporation; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/dragon-riders-express" Dragon Riders Express; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/dutch-maid-logistics" Dutch Maid Logistics; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/earl-l-henderson-trucking" Earl L. Henderson Trucking; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/epes-transport-system-inc" Epes Transport System, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/erb-international-inc" Erb International, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/estes-express-lines" Estes Express Lines; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/fields-lehman-trucking-llc" Fields & Lehman Trucking, LLC; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/fremont-contract-carriers" Fremont Contract Carriers; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/freymiller-inc" Freymiller, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/gp-trucking" G&P Trucking; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/garner-transportation-group" Garner Transportation Group; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/gateway-distribution" Gateway Distribution; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/gordon-trucking-inc" Gordon Trucking, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/grand-island-express" Grand Island Express; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/gully-transportation-inc" Gully Transportation, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/halvor-lines-inc" Halvor Lines, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/hampton-roads-moving-storage" Hampton Roads Moving & Storage; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/hannaford-supermarkets" Hannaford Supermarkets; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/hartt-transportation-systems-inc" Hartt Transportation Systems, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/heartland-express" Heartland Express; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/high-transit-llc" High Transit, LLC; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/hirschbach-motor-lines" Hirschbach Motor Lines; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/hobby-lobby-stores" Hobby Lobby Stores; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/hoekstra-transportation-llc" Hoekstra Transportation, LLC; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/international-paper" International Paper; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/interstate-distributor-co" Interstate Distributor Co.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/interstate-moving-and-storage-inc" Interstate Moving and Storage, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/j-grady-randolph" J. Grady Randolph; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/jb-hunt" J.B. Hunt; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/jagtrux-inc" Jagtrux, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/jay-thompson" Jay Thompson; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/jet-express" Jet Express; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/jetco-delivery" Jetco Delivery; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/john-christner-trucking" John Christner Trucking; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/john-d-rockefeller-career-center-cdl-program" John D. Rockefeller Career Center CDL Program; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/jti-logistics" JTI Logistics; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/keith-smith-united-road-service" Keith Smith - United Road Service; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/keller-logistics-group" Keller Logistics Group; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/kennesaw-transportation-inc" Kennesaw Transportation, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/klimited-carrier-ltd" K-Limited Carrier Ltd.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/knudsen-trucking-company" Knudsen Trucking Company; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/landstar-inway-inc" Landstar Inway, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/lange-moving-solutions" Lange Moving Solutions; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/leonards-express" Leonard's Express; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/liberty-moving-storage" Liberty Moving & Storage; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/load-one-llc" Load One LLC; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/lone-star-transportation" Lone Star Transportation; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/matrix-expedited-service" Matrix Expedited Service; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/maverick-transportation" Maverick Transportation; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/mcguire-moving" McGuire Moving; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/metropolitan-trucking" Metropolitan Trucking; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/missouri-trucking-association" Missouri Trucking Association; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/mjm-trucking-inc" MJM Trucking Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/motor-carrier-service-inc" Motor Carrier Service, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/national-carriers-inc" National Carriers, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/navajo-express" Navajo Express; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/nemf" NEMF; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/network-transportation" Network Transportation; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/new-jersey-trucking-association" New Jersey Trucking Association; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/new-world-van-lines" New World Van Lines; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/north-carolina-trucking-association" North Carolina TruckingAssociation; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/oakhurst-dairy" Oakhurst Dairy; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/ohio-trucking-association" Ohio Trucking Association; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/omni-moving-storage" Omni Moving & Storage; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/one-eleven-logistics-llc" One Eleven Logistics LLC; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/paf-transportation" PAF Transportation; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/paul-sagehorn-llc" Paul Sagehorn LLC; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/peoples-services" People's Services; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/perdue-transportation" Perdue Transportation; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/performance-trucking-inc" Performance Trucking, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/pinnacle-freight-lines-inc" Pinnacle Freight Lines, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/poland-spring-bottling-company" Poland Spring Bottling Company; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/pottles-transportation" Pottle's Transportation; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/pride-transport-inc" Pride Transport, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/prime-inc" Prime, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/quest-global-inc" Quest Global Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/rc-moore-inc" R.C. Moore, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/raider-express" Raider Express; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/regency-transportation" Regency Transportation; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/reliable-van-and-storage" Reliable Van and Storage; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/robert-mead" Robert Mead; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/saddle-creek-logistical-services" Saddle Creek Logistical Services; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/schneider-national" Schneider National; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/scott-harris" Scott Harris; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/shell-rotella" Shell Rotella; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/shumaker-jennifer-mondor" Shumaker - Jennifer Mondor; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/skyline-transportation-inc" Skyline Transportation, Inc. HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/smokey-point-distributing" Smokey Point Distributing * HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/stevens-transport-inc" Stevens Transport Inc. * HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/swift-stuart-rashba" Swift - Stuart Rashba; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/tapetro-open-road-distributing" TA/Petro - Open RoadDistributing; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/taylor-truck-line-inc" Taylor Truck Line, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/tennant-truck-lines" Tennant Truck Lines; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/tg-logistics-llc" TG Logistics LLC; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/titan-transfer-inc" Titan Transfer, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/tld-logistics-services-inc" TLD Logistics Services, Inc; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/total-quality-logistics" Total Quality Logistics; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/total-transportation" Total Transportation; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/transco-lines-inc" Transco Lines, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/transtar-moving-systems" Transtar Moving Systems; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/tribe-transportationexpress" Tribe Transportation/Express; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/trucker-charity-inc" Trucker Charity, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/try-hours-expedite" Try Hours Expedite; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/tyson-foods-inc" Tyson Foods Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/us-xpress-inc" U.S. Xpress, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/universal-truckload-services-inc" Universal Truckload Services, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/ups-new-jersey" UPS - New Jersey; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/vj-strupp-trucking-llc" V&J Strupp Trucking LLC; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/wakefern" Wakefern; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/walmart-transportation" Walmart Transportation; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/warren-transport-inc" Warren Transport, Inc.; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/waste-masters-solutions" Waste Masters Solutions; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/weinrich-truck-line" Weinrich Truck Line; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/wiltrans" Wil-Trans; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/witte-bros-exchange-inc" Witte Bros. Exchange, Inc. ; HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/wwc-inc" WWC Inc.; and HYPERLINK "http://www.waatrucking.com/yrc-freight" YRC Freight
Caption:
“Remember this.... In truth a person dies twice, once when he stops breathing, and a second time when somebody mentions his or her name for the last time. Join us December 17 when over one million volunteers nationwide, will say the names of a million fallen out loud, to make sure they will never be forgotten.”
— Karen Worcester, Executive Director of Wreaths Across America