Donated Wreaths En Route to Arlington

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I've seen these wreaths at Arlington National Cemetary and it made me feel so good to know that our fallen soldiers, there and in other veteran's cemetaries around the country, are not forgotten at Christmas. Wal Mart has also been donating to this most noble effort. http://www.military.com/news/article/donated-wreaths-en-route-to-arlington.html?col=1186032310810 [i]NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. -- Some 20 members of the Rhode Island Chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders assembled at the Emerald Square Mall on Dec. 9 to join a convoy of state troopers, fellow members of Patriot Guard and two tractor trailers containing 10,000 Christmas wreaths heading to Arlington National Cemetery. The tradition of trucking wreaths to Washington to honor the nation's fallen during the holiday season started about 15 years ago when the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine, found itself with 5,000 extra holiday wreaths. Owner Morrill Worcester came up with the idea of donating them to Arlington National Cemetery and he said the project has since expanded. "It started with 5,000 wreaths (in 1992)," said Worcester, who was accompanying the convoy. "This (Saturday) 105,724 wreaths will be laid at veterans' cemeteries across the country and around the world." Last year, Worcester established Wreaths across America to carry out the job of distributing the wreaths. The organization's stated mission is to: "Remember the fallen; Honor those who serve; Teach our children the value of freedom." Worcester said the project took off dramatically after 2005 when an iconic photograph was published on the Internet showing the wreaths on gravesites in Arlington in the snow. The stark contrast of the white ground and headstones with the green wreaths and red ribbons struck a chord, and, he said, everything changed in terms of people and organizations wanting to be involved. (The photograph can be seen at www.wreaths- across- america.org/.) He said his overall contribution was now about 20,000 wreaths with the remainder coming from donations, with Wal-Mart the biggest donor. More than 350 veterans' cemeteries nationwide and 24 cemeteries overseas now hold ceremonies during the holiday season. [/i]