What are Wreaths Across America

One man's annual tribute to our veterans inspired a legion of volunteers and gave rise to the Wreaths Across America of today.

Morrill Worcester, Founder of Wreaths Across America, and his wife Karen Worcester, Executive Director

Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, was a 12-year-old paper boy for the Bangor Daily News when he won a trip to Washington D.C. His first trip to our nation’s capital was one he would never forget, and Arlington National Cemetery made an especially indelible impression on him. This experience followed him throughout his life and successful career, reminding him that his good fortune was due, in large part, to the values of this nation and the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. 

In 1992, Worcester Wreath found themselves with a surplus of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. Remembering his boyhood experience at Arlington, Worcester realized he had an opportunity to honor our country’s veterans. With the aid of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, arrangements were made for the wreaths to be placed at Arlington in one of the older sections of the cemetery that had been receiving fewer visitors with each passing year.

As plans were underway, several other individuals and organizations stepped up to help. A trucking company offered free transportation of the wreaths to Virginia, the local American Legion and VFW Posts decorated each wreath with traditional red, hand-tied bows, and members of the Maine State Society of Washington, D.C. helped to organize the wreath-laying, which included a special ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The annual tribute went on quietly for several years, until 2005, when a photo of the stones at Arlington, adorned with wreaths and covered in snow, circulated on the internet.


This iconic image went viral in 2005, inspiring increased national interest in the annual tribute and prompting the formation of Wreaths Across America as a non-profit 501-(c)(3)

Suddenly, the project received national attention. Thousands of requests poured in from people wanting to help with Arlington, to emulate the Arlington project at their National and State cemeteries, or to simply share their stories and thank Morrill Worcester for honoring our nation’s heroes. 

Unable to donate thousands of wreaths to each state, Worcester began sending seven wreaths to every state, one for each branch of the military, and for POW/MIAs. In 2006, with the help of the Civil Air Patrol and other civic organizations, simultaneous wreath-laying ceremonies were held at over 150 locations around the country. The Patriot Guard Riders volunteered as escorts for the wreaths going to Arlington. This began the annual “Veterans Honor Parade” that travels the east coast in early December.

The annual trip to Arlington and the groups of volunteers eager to participate in Worcester’s simple wreath-laying event grew each year until it became clear the desire to remember and honor our country’s fallen heroes was bigger than Arlington, and bigger than this one company.

In 2007, the Worcester family, along with veterans, and other groups and individuals, formed Wreaths Across America, a non-profit 501-(c)(3) organization, to continue and expand this effort, and support other groups around the country who wanted to do the same. The mission of the group is simple: Remember. Honor. Teach.

In 2008, over 300 locations held wreath-laying ceremonies in every state, Puerto Rico and 24 overseas cemeteries. Over 100,000 wreaths were placed on veterans’ graves. Over 60,000 volunteers participated. And that year, December 13, 2008, was unanimously voted by the US Congress as “Wreaths Across America Day”.

In 2014, Wreaths Across America and its national network of volunteers laid over 700,000 memorial wreaths at 1,000 locations in the United States and beyond, including ceremonies at the Pearl Harbor Memorial, as well as Bunker Hill, Valley Forge, and the sites of the September 11 tragedies. This was accomplished with help from 2,047 sponsorship groups, corporate contributions, and donations of trucking, shipping, and thousands of helping hands. The organization's goal of covering Arlington National Cemetery was met in 2014 with the placement of 226,525 wreaths.

The wreath-laying is still held annually on the second or third Saturday of December. WAA's annual pilgrimage from Harrington, Maine to Arlington National Cemetery has become known as the world’s largest veterans’ parade, stopping at schools, monuments, veterans’ homes, and communities all along the way to remind people how important it is to remember, honor and teach. 

Wreaths Across America would not be successful without the help of volunteers, active organizations, and the generosity of the trucking industry, which offer invaluable support to WAA's mission to remember the men and women who served our country, honor our military and their families, and teach our children about our freedom and those who protect it. There are many ways you can help—learn more about how you can get involved.

How Can Your Council or Assembly Participate? 

1. You can donate money to purchase wreaths. The wreaths cost $17.00 each.  There are several ways to donate: 
   
   
   1. Funds can be sent to a local participating cemetery.  
      1. A comprehensive list of participating cemeteries can be found on the National WAA website  
      2. Or you can contact your local cemetery to inquire if they have a WAA coordinator.
         
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   2. Funds can be sent to the national HQ of WAA.  Such funds can be earmarked to go to a particular cemetery of your choice, or you can leave it to their discretion to distribute your wreaths where they are most needed.  Likely, many such wreaths will be used at Arlington National Cemetery.
      
      
   3. Funds can be sent to Knights of Columbus Charities of Georgia (KCCG)
      1. Once again, you can earmark a specific cemetery or simply allow KCCG to send the funds to WAA for general distribution throughout Georgia.
         
         
2. You can volunteer to lay wreaths on Wreaths Across America Day which will be held on December 16 this year.  To volunteer, simply coordinate with the WAA coordinator at your local cemetery (as mentioned above) or just show up at a participating location.  In Georgia, the Canton or Marrietta National Cemetries, the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville, and the Andersonville National Historic Site are well-known and popular destinations for volunteers.
   
   Volunteering is a great expression of civic pride and patriotism, hallmarks of the Knights of Columbus.  Gathering to do so with your Brother Knights is also an expression of unity and fraternity, two other principles of our Order.  But laying wreaths on a December afternoon is not just something for Knights to do.  Many Councils and Assemblies use this occasion to gather for fellowship with their families and friends and to teach the principle of patriotism to children and grandchildren.  It is truly a family affair.
   
   There will typically be a brief opening ceremony.  There may be some remarks by local dignitaries and/or representatives of the armed forces.  Perhaps a local school will have provided a band to play the National Anthem.  Perhaps an organization like the American Legion, the VFW, JROTC, Civil Air Patrol or the Knights of Columbus will provide a color guard.  Ceremonial wreaths, one for each branch of service and the POW//MIA, are usually laid first and then participants are released to walk the grounds and lay wreaths.
   
   Wreaths are typically distributed in boxed batches around the cemetery.  Grab some and walk among the headstones.  In some cases, cemetery staff may have pre-marked the locations for you to place a wreath.  In other cases, you play detective, pausing to read the headstones and markers as you go to find the final resting place of a veteran and then placing a wreath there.  Either way it is a righteous and fulfilling experience that you, your family, and your Brother Knights will not soon forget. 
   
   
3. You can do both; donate money AND volunteer.  For the best expression of support, consider both donating funds to purchase wreaths and mustering your Brother Knights to volunteer on December 16.  You will be glad you did!

OK, you like what you’ve read so far and are considering participation this year for the first time.  Step by step, here’s what to do:

• Serving Georgia, the Region 2 Liaison team assists in providing local coordinator contact information for Wreath Across America supported sites throughout the State.
  
  Call them at (207) 578-6283 to find coordinators at cemeteries near you that you’d like to support.
  
  
• Ask your brother Knights at the Council and/or Assembly if they would like to participate through donations or by volunteering to gauge interest.
  
  
• Speak to your Pastor about raising money through the parish in support of Wreaths Across America. 
  
  
• Donations can be made using cash, checks, or credit card payments. Work with your local coordinators to determine what’s best in your situation.

How to Become a Sponsor Organization?

For those Councils and Assemblies with experience but who would like to ramp up their program, here are some guidelines for how to become a sponsor organization and what some of the benefits of sponsorship entail.

• Becoming a sponsor organization is the first step in developing a purposeful and sustainable Council/Assembly program. Here again, start with the Region 2 Liaison Team at (207) 578-6283; Janelle or Meisa will guide you through the process.
  
  
• A sponsor organization commits to supporting one or more approved sites. The organization obtains a unique website provided by the National Wreaths Across America program. This site can be customized for your group and location numbers, it is how you collect online wreath sponsors (donors), and it makes management of your program much easier.
  
  
• Sponsor organizations local coordinators receive ongoing training, have access to a wealth of WAA resources to help make your program more effective and successful.
  
• St. Jude the Apostle Assembly 3856, a top Five sponsor in 2022, was among the first KofC councils/assemblies in Georgia to become a sponsor organization. You may peruse their website here.

• Now that we decided to participate as a Council/Assembly, what should we do to raise funds, etc.?
  • Each situation is unique, but in general, it starts with talking to your pastor and working with your parish. Look to potential partners in your community. These may include veteran service organizations such as the American Legion, VFW, etc.; civic organizations such as the Rotary Club or Chamber of Commerce; local schools; and local businesses, large or small.
    
    
• How do we promote the program?
  
  • Wreaths Across America provides training for local coordinators and various resources that will help you. While National Wreaths Across America Day occurs in December, usually the Saturday a week before Christmas, you should consider a year round program and plan accordingly. Use your parish bulletin and local media in addition to social media.
    
    In addition, Wreaths Across America has two basic programs available yo you. The first provides a 3-for-2 option, whereby you receive three wreaths for every two ordered. For example, a sponsor purchases ten wreaths for $170.00; the sponsor organization receives 15 wreaths. This program allows you to maximize the number wreaths and helps donor see the dollars go farther. A second program, and one for more established sponsor organizations provides a “do good twice” option, whereby the sponsor organization receives $5.00 cash back for each wreath purchased. This can be used as a fundraiser or as a means to further donate funds to organizations providing services to veterans in need. Check your local area or speak to veteran service organizations to seek their guidance.
    
    
• How much time and effort does it take to participate in the program?
  • That ultimately depends upon your Council/Assembly program objectives. A simple fundraiser can readily support a program objective of 100 or fewer wreaths. For more aggressive program objectives you require sufficient people and investment of time. Developing strategic program partners helps lighten the load to a degree.