Wreaths Across America

I live fairly close to the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. I have some friends and acquaintances who I have had the honor of knowing over the years who are buried there. I try to stop by their grave sites a couple times a year to pay my respects and to reflect on the past. A visit to Arlington National Cemetery is always a moving event at anytime of the year, but during the Christmas holiday season it is especially poignant as the cemetery takes on a unique look.

The Worcester Wreath Company from the State of Maine started an annual tradition in 1992 by donating over 5,000 wreaths for display on grave sites in Arlington National Cemetery. The organization Wreaths Across America (http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/) now coordinates and oversees the process now and is helped along the way with numerous corporate and individual sponsors. The program has also expanded to over 300 locations in every state, Puerto Rico, and 24 overseas cemeteries where local wreath laying ceremonies are held each December. The total wreaths laid on graves is now over 100,000 and over 60,000 volunteers are involved in the effort each year.

The pictures below are from Section 60 where many of America’s most recent war dead from Iraq and Afghanistan lie in rest after making the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

GF1 and 20mm