The tradition of Wreaths Across America – Laying Wreaths is extremely important. It’s important to remember and honor those who served our country and sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Without them, we wouldn’t be the country we are today. The question is, how and why did such a heart warming tradition start?
How it Started
Morrill Worcester, the owner of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine, had a pivotal experience when he was just 12 years old. As a young paperboy, he won a trip to Washington D.C. – his first visit to the nation’s capital. One of the most memorable moments of the trip was seeing the rows of graves at Arlington National Cemetery, especially the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. That powerful experience stayed with him throughout his life, reminding him of the sacrifices made by veterans and the values that helped him succeed.
In 1992, as the holiday season wrapped up, Worcester Wreath Company found itself with extra wreaths. Remembering his visit to Arlington, Morrill saw a chance to honor the nation’s veterans. With help from Maine Senator Olympia Snowe (ret.), he arranged for the surplus wreaths to be placed at Arlington National Cemetery, specifically in one of the older sections that had been visited less frequently in recent years.
As the plans took shape, other individuals and organizations offered their support. James Prout, the owner of Blue Bird Ranch, a local trucking company, generously volunteered to transport the wreaths to Virginia. Volunteers from local American Legion and VFW Posts, along with community members, decorated each wreath with traditional red bows. The Maine State Society of Washington D.C. helped organize the wreath-laying ceremony, which included a special tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
For over a decade, the annual wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery remained a quiet, private tribute. That changed in 2005 when a photo of snow-covered gravestones adorned with wreaths circulated online. What had started as a modest tribute from a small Maine town quickly gained national attention. Requests poured in from across the country—people wanting to help lay wreaths at Arlington or replicate the project at their own local cemeteries. Many also reached out to thank Morrill Worcester for honoring fallen heroes, including surviving family members of the veterans being remembered.
Seeing the growing interest, Morrill Worcester began sending seven wreaths to each state—one for each branch of the military and an additional wreath for POW/MIAs. In 2006, with help from the Civil Air Patrol and other civic groups, wreath-laying ceremonies were held simultaneously at over 150 locations nationwide. The Patriot Guard Riders volunteered to escort the wreaths going to Arlington, marking the start of the annual “Veterans Honor Parade,” which now travels the East Coast every December.
Each year, the number of volunteers and the scale of the event continued to grow, showing just how much people wanted to honor our nation’s fallen heroes. The movement had expanded far beyond Morrill’s original idea and beyond his small company in Harrington, Maine.
In 2007, the Worcester family, with support from veterans’ organizations and other groups involved in the Arlington ceremony, officially launched Wreaths Across America (WAA), a nonprofit dedicated to continuing and growing the mission. The organization’s simple mission was to Remember, Honor, and Teach.
By 2008, WAA had grown significantly, with over 300 locations across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and 24 overseas cemeteries participating. More than 100,000 wreaths were placed on veterans’ graves, and over 60,000 volunteers took part. That year, December 13 was officially recognized by the U.S. Congress as “Wreaths Across America Day.”
By 2014, WAA reached a significant milestone, placing 226,525 wreaths on veterans’ graves, fulfilling the goal of honoring every veteran’s resting place. The organization expanded internationally in 2018, when it was invited by the American Battle Monuments Commission to hold a wreath-laying ceremony at Normandy American Cemetery in France, where nearly 10,000 American heroes are interred.
In 2022, WAA and its network of volunteers placed over 2.7 million sponsored wreaths at 3,702 locations. This success was made possible by more than 5,000 sponsorship groups, corporate donations, and support from the transportation industry across the country.
The wreath-laying tradition, which started over 30 years ago, continues to be held annually on the second or third Saturday of December. WAA’s journey from Harrington, Maine to Arlington National Cemetery has become known as “the world’s largest veterans’ parade.” Every year, the convoy of trucks, law enforcement, staff, and volunteers makes stops at schools, monuments, veterans’ homes, and communities along the way to raise awareness about WAA’s mission and remind people about the importance of remembering, honoring, and teaching future generations about the sacrifices made by our military.
In 2022, WAA also launched its expanded TEACH program, which focuses on educating young people of all ages about the value of freedom and the importance of honoring those who protect it. The program provides lesson plans for all grade levels and works with organizations focused on character development and service projects for youth.
Wreaths Across America’s success would not be possible without the support of volunteers, veterans’ organizations, and the trucking industry, which helps transport the wreaths each year. There are many ways to get involved and support the mission of remembering, honoring, and teaching. To learn more, visit the Wreaths Across America website, sign up for the newsletter, or stop by the Wreaths Across America Museum in Columbia Falls, Maine.
Remember and Honor Our Fallen Heroes
The Wreaths Across America wreath-laying ceremony will be held tomorrow, December 14th, at 11 A.M. at the Garden of Memories Memorial Park in Lufkin, Texas. This is a special time to come together and honor the men and women who gave everything to protect our freedoms. As wreaths are placed on the graves of our fallen heroes, we remember their bravery and the sacrifices they made for us all. It’s a simple but powerful way to say “thank you” and keep their memory alive, showing that their service will never be forgotten.
