20061215 The Christmas wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery

The Christmas wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery

Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin

Wreaths Across America

By Michelle Malkin · December 15, 2006 11:35 AM

The Wreaths Across America celebration was held yesterday at Arlington National Cemetery and across the country. Thousands of volunteers participated:

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The Internet played a key role in spreading the word and the movement:

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Thank you, Mr. Worcester, for helping us not to forget.

Gift of wreaths touches nation

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-12-14-wreaths-cover_x.htm

The balsam fir wreath was from Maine — made by hand, decorated by hand, wrapped, boxed and loaded on a truck by hand, then driven 750 miles to Arlington National Cemetery.

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Every December for the past 15 years, Morrill Worcester, owner of one of the world's largest holiday wreath companies, has taken time in the midst of his busiest season to haul a truckload of wreaths to Arlington from his small Downeast Maine town of Harrington.

For years, he and a small band of volunteers laid the wreaths in virtual obscurity. But in the last 12 months that has changed, thanks to a dusting of snow last year at the cemetery, an evocative photograph, a sentimental poem and a chain e-mail. And this year, Worcester went national. A new program, "Wreaths Across America," shipped a total of about 1,300 wreaths to more than 200 national cemeteries and vets' memorials in all 50 states.

Worcester, 56, says he wants to help Americans remember and honor deceased military veterans, particularly at Christmas, when they're missed most. On the Wreaths Across America website, he makes this comment: "When people hear about what we're doing, they want to know if I'm a veteran. I'm not. But I make it my business never to forget."

Read the rest here.

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