The 2011 Wreaths Across America “Veteran’s Parade” started yesterday (4 December) on its route to Arlington National Cemetery. This year, the organization’s National Remembrance Ceremony at Arlington will take place on Saturday, 10 December. During the day, volunteers will place wreaths on an estimated 100,000 headstones.
New England stops include the weekend’s stops in Maine - Quoddy Head State Park, Hermon Elementary School, and Cheverus High School in Portland. In addition, the convoy will visit Kittery Trading Post (Kittery, ME) and the Topsfield Fair Grounds (Topsfield, MA) today and spend the night at the Elks Club in Auburn, MA. The last New England stop will be a fuel/rest stop in Lee, MA, on Tuesday morning.
Wreaths Across America is a non-profit organization founded in 2007 by the Worcester family, owners of the Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine. The wreath-laying effort began with a simple act of patriotism when Morrill Worcester, co-owner of the Worcester Wreath Company, donated 5,000 evergreen wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery in 1992. This annual pilgrimage from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery is now considered the world’s largest veteran’s parade with 50 long-haul tractor trailers from major sponsors making the week-long journey.
The parade will stop at schools, monuments, veterans’ homes and communities along the way to remind people how important it is to remember, honor and teach — in keeping with the organization’s mission to teach younger generations about the value of their freedom and the importance of honoring those who sacrificed so much to protect those freedoms.
This year, including the effort at Arlington, Wreaths Across America plans to distribute 400,000 wreaths nationwide, providing support for memorials in all 50 states, including special services at Valley Forge Military Academy, Pearl Harbor, Bunker Hill, Charleston Naval Shipyard, and a wreath for every victim of 9-11 in New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, PA.
Media reports:
Bangor Daily News: 100,000 wreaths headed to Arlington National Cemetery (5 DEC 11)
Portland Press Herald: Wreath mission saluted (5 DEC 11)
To access this year's route, please visit:
Wreaths Across America: 2011 Escort to Arlington
For more information, please visit:
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