Wreaths honor America’s heroes

“Remember the fallen;

Honor those who serve;

Teach our children the value of freedom.”

Those are the tenets of the Wreaths Across America foundation and the reason wreaths will be laid on the graves of our veterans across the nation next month.

Here in the Roanoke Valley, the Halifax Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is taking the lead in selling the wreaths and helping place them on graves at Cedarwood Cemetery at noon on Saturday, Dec. 12.

During that same hour, thousands of wreathes will be laid on veterans’ graves throughout the nation including at Arlington National Cemetery, where the observance began.

The Arlington wreath program was started by Morrill Worcester in 1992 with the donation and laying of 5,000 Christmas wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. Worcester owned Worcester Wreaths, a Maine company, is renowned for its decorations.

The organization’s Web site tells how it became a national cause. “It was relatively obscure until 2005 when a photo of the stones adorned with wreaths and covered in snow circulated around the Internet. The project received national attention. Thousands of requests poured in from all over the country from people wanting to emulate the Arlington project at their cemeteries spurring the creation of Wreaths Across America.

Unable to donate thousands of wreaths to each state, Worcester conceived the idea of sending seven wreaths (one for each branch of the military as well as POW/MIA).  In 2006 with the help of the CAP and other civic organizations, more than 150 locations held wreath-laying ceremonies simultaneously.

By 2007 the requests for more wreaths grew. The Worcester family established the non-profit group Wreaths Across America to further promote veterans’ remembrance. The mission: Remember, Honor and Teach characterized the projects goals perfectly.

By 2008 more than 300 locations held wreath laying ceremonies in every state, Puerto Rico and 24 overseas cemeteries.  More than 100,000 wreaths were placed on veterans’ graves with more than 60,000 volunteers participating.

This year the Roanoke Valley joins the list of participants with the leadership of the Halifax CAP squadron.

You may order a wreath for $15 by contacting Butch Clopton at Southern Bank, 252-535-3043 or Joe Hagen at Wrenn, Clarke and Hagen Funeral Home, 252-537-4742. The deadline is Nov. 25. All wreathes may be picked up at the noon ceremony Dec. 12 in the veterans section of Cedarwood Cemetery in Roanoke Rapids.