MAINE STATE TROOPERS FOUNDATION

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA
Website: wreathsacrossamerica.org
Wreaths Across America Facebook page

In 1992, Merrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, ME. had a surplus of Christmas wreaths. Remembering a boyhood trip he made at 12 to visit Arlington National Cemetery, he made arrangements with the help of Maine Senator Olympia Snow to place wreaths in an older section of Arlington Cemetery.

The annual tribute continued for several years, including a special ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, until 2005, when a photo of Arlington in the snow with wreaths on the headstones received national attention. Thousands of requests poured in from all the country from people wanting to help with the Arlington project or emulate the project in their area. In 2007, Wreaths Across America, a non-profit 501(c)3 Corporation, was formed to continue and expand the wreath effort.

The mission of Wreaths Across America, Remember, Honor, Teach, is carried out in part by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies on a specified Saturday in December in Arlington, as well as at veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states, ceremonies at sea and at 24 national cemeteries on foreign soil.
in 2014, 69 trucks delivered 230,000 wreaths, placed by over 40,000 volunteers.

The Maine State Troopers Foundation is a sponsor and supporter of Wreaths Across America and attends the function. The Maine State Police assists in the escort from Maine to Arlington by the Patriot Guard Riders for the trucks carrying the wreaths, and also participate in the ceremony.

Wreaths Across America Slideshow – 2014 Arlington National Cemetery

To stop slideshow, click a picture. To resume, click arrows on sides of picture, or click the dots below the picture.

Videos – Wreaths Across America

What is Wreaths Across America?
Video by Wreaths Across America