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Wreaths Across America – Arlington National Cemetery

Marylou Crosby Wade

It’s almost time to go to Washington, DC, for the Wreaths Across America event this year on Saturday, December 13th. I’ll be going up alone this time, and sure do hate to miss the company of my dear friend Andrea. You Read about our trip last year. It was a wonderful experience.
From the Wreaths Across America newsletter I received today.

The wreaths are made. The last counts and logistics are being confirmed.
Tomorrow morning, folks will gather in Harrington, Maine for the annual send-off ceremony as the wreaths begin their journey out across the Country. 2008 will be the largest WAA event ever at Arlington National Cemetery, with nearly 11,000 wreaths and thousands of volunteers in attendance at the one location alone.
We have a number of Location Leader and Sponsorship Groups all around the Country doing amazing work that will be on display this coming week as we carry out our mission, to Remember; Honor; and Teach. So please make your plans and join us to show your appreciation.
Can you believe it? Over 100,000 wreaths being placed to honor our veterans and their families! We have nearly 400 participating locations that will infuse their
communities with the spirit of appreciation for the sacrifices made. Read all about it at Wreaths Across America.

Sponsor a wreath! The Wreaths Across America story began over 15 years ago when Worcester Wreath Company (a for-profit commercial business from Harrington, Maine) began a tradition of placing wreaths on the headstones of our Nation’s fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery during the holidays.
Over that period of time, Worcester Wreath has donated 90,000 wreaths which were placed by volunteers in a wreath-laying ceremony each December. But as word spread, the mission to Remember; Honor; and Teach about the sacrifices made by our veterans has captured the hearts and minds of many communities across the Country.

I’ll be flying up Friday, December 12. I’ll be meeting up with my friend, and a friend to a lot of you reading this, Whiz Broome (Pentagon Chaplain). He’s going to show me the 911 Memorial at the Pentagon which was opened this September 11, 2008. Afterward, Whiz, his wife Alexa and I will be headed out to dinner for a fun evening of friends. I can’t wait to visit with them both.
Although I’m going up alone this year, I won’t be alone for sure. I’ll be meeting up with two of my Vietnam Veteran friends who I met there last year.
The wreath laying will begin at 0830 Saturday, December 13th. In fact, these two guys were also at Herby’s services in May 2007. I hope to meet up with Diehard and Digits at the gate of Arlington National Cemetery as they are part of the Patriot Guard Rider escort of the wreaths from Maine. I also hope to catch a ride in with Diehard on his bike! He has a brother who is also buried at ANC. Diehard and Digits were my guardian angels last year.
You’ll see Diehard here comforting me when I laid the wreath on Herby’s grave. It was so emotional that I can’t begin to describe it.
I didn’t get the chance to comfort Diehard when he laid a wreath on his brother’s grave last year, but I promised him I’d be there this year, and hence the trip. Not only to do the same for Herby, but for Diehard, and all our heroes buried in Arlington National Cemetery. What an honor.
It’s a whirlwind trip, but a trip I’ve looked forward to since last December. It’s very emotional, very comforting, and very much something I have to do, I want to do. I will be able to visit Herby’s grave. I feel so Blessed to be able to do this again this year. I doubt I will next year, but who knows??? Maybe next year I’ll go for Memorial Day.

2 thoughts on “Wreaths Across America – Arlington National Cemetery”

  1. I know it will be a memorable time for you. Take pics. And have a wonderful time with Whiz, Alexa, and our patriot friends.Will be thinking of you up there in ch-ch-chilly Washington DC!

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