For the holidays each year, Wreaths Across America (“WAA”) coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies to “Remember, Honor, and Teach” about the sacrifices made by our veterans and their families. This tradition began in 1992 as The Arlington Wreath project and started with the laying of 5000 Christmas wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery by Morrill Worcester.
WAA remained relatively obscure until 2005 when a photo of the snow-covered gravestones adorned with wreaths went viral, resulting in national attention.
The next year over 150 state and national cemeteries held wreath laying ceremonies simultaneously. By 2008, 60,000 volunteers were placing over 100,000 wreaths on veterans’ graves during ceremonies at 300 locations in every state, Puerto Rico and 24 overseas cemeteries. In 2021, over 2 million volunteers laid 2.4 million wreaths on the headstones of the fallen across the country.
The importance of honoring each fallen serviceman/woman as an individual is stressed. The wreath laying is now held yearly on the second Saturday of December. This remembrance was officially recognized by unanimous vote in the US Congress as “Wreaths Across America™ Day”.
By offering sponsorships to the public, Wreaths Across America hopes that one day every veteran’s resting place will be adorned with a wreath for the holiday season.
At noon on December 17th Wreaths Across America will be at Monocacy Cemetery to remember and honor our veterans through the laying of Remembrance wreaths on the graves of 480 of our country’s fallen heroes and the act of saying the name of every veteran aloud.
Please participate by sponsoring a wreath and/or volunteering to lay a wreath at: https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/170100/Overview/?relatedId=169239
Thank you so much for supporting Monocacy Cemetery and Wreaths Across America!