CULLMAN, Ala. – National Wreaths Across America Day is this Saturday, Dec. 16, and the Dripping Springs Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will host a short ceremony before being joined by volunteers to place wreaths on veterans’ graves at the Cullman City Cemetery. The public is invited.
Wreaths Across America is a “nonprofit organization founded in 2007 to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine wreath maker Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s yearlong mission – Remember the fallen, Honor those that serve, Teach the next generation the value of freedom – is carried out, in part, each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at thousands of participating locations in all 50 states and beyond.” (www.wreathsacrossamerica.org)
Althelia Gibbs, a member of Dripping Springs DAR, became involved in the local ceremony last year. “Wreaths Across America has a three-pronged approach. Firstly, they want to remember all the deceased veterans who have sacrificed for their country, and that is the main focus. Secondly, they want to honor living veterans; they donate all proceeds above the cost to make the wreaths to various veterans charities and organizations. Thirdly, is to teach the younger generation about patriotism,” she said.
Wreaths Across America began in 1992, when Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, found himself with a large surplus of fresh holiday wreaths. When deciding what to do with his overstock, Worcester recalled childhood experiences from a trip to Washington D.C. Seeing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in person deeply impacted him; Worcester chose to treat the inventory surplus as an opportunity to honor this country’s veterans. And so, arrangements were made for the surplus wreaths to be placed at Arlington in one of the older sections of the cemetery that had been receiving fewer visitors each year. In 2008, the U.S. Congress unanimously voted to name the second or third Saturday in December as National Wreaths Across America Day.
“Last year we only had 262 wreaths to put out. This year we have over 900,” said Gibbs. “We will have local Boy Scouts, the Lions Club and the JROTC from the career center (Cullman Area Technology Academy) coming to help lay the wreaths. We also invite the public and attendees to help lay the wreaths. Everyone is welcome to help.”
Everyone is invited to attend the ceremony Saturday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m. at the Cullman City Cemetery at 812 Ninth St. SW. Laying of the wreaths will immediately follow the short ceremony.
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