New York State Police participate in Wreaths Across America in Long Island

Phil Stilton

LONG ISLAND, NY – Members of the community and the New York State Police participated in Wreaths across America on Saturday.

“Wreaths Across America” made there way to Long Island this weekend.

“Members of the New York State Police were honored to be part of this event and we salute all the women and men and their families who served our great nation. We are forever grateful for their service,” the NYSP said.

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine business owner Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s mission, “Remember, Honor, Teach,” is carried out in part by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 2,100 locations across the United States and at sea. Wreaths are also placed on veterans’ graves in 24 international cemeteries.


What is Wreaths Across America?

Wreaths Across America is a nationwide event that takes place on the second Saturday in December. It is a day to remember and honor our nation’s veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Wreaths Across America was started in 2007 by Morrill Worcester, owner of the Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine. Inspired by his trip to Arlington National Cemetery, Worcester decided to donate wreaths to adorn the graves of fallen soldiers during the holiday season. With the help of volunteers, he was able to lay wreaths on more than 14,000 graves.

Since then, the event has grown exponentially. Last year, more than 2 million volunteers placed wreaths on over 700,000 graves at more than 1,600 locations across the country. This year’s event will take place on December 14th.

If you would like to participate in Wreaths Across America, you can do so by donating money or time. You can also purchase a wreath to be placed on a grave. For more information, please visit their website at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org


The History of Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America is a nationwide organization that organizes the laying of wreaths on the graves of military veterans during the Christmas season. The organization was founded in 1992 by Morrill Worcester, a Maine businessman who started the tradition of placing wreaths on veterans’ graves at Arlington National Cemetery. Since then, Wreaths Across America has grown to include over 1,200 participating cemeteries across the United States.

The mission of Wreaths Across America is twofold: to remember and honor our fallen heroes, and to teach our children the value of freedom. The organization achieves these goals by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at veterans’ cemeteries across the country, and by providing educational resources for teachers and students.

Each year on National Wreaths Across America Day (the second Saturday in December), volunteers place wreaths on the graves of military veterans at participating cemeteries. This simple act of remembrance honors those who have served our country and helps to teach future generations about the sacrifices made by our military heroes.

In addition to organizing wreath-laying ceremonies, Wreaths Across America provides educational resources for teachers and students. These resources include lesson plans, classroom activities, and an online learning center with videos and articles about Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and other patriotic holidays. By providing these resources, Wreaths Across America hopes to instill a sense of patriotism in young people and help.

How you can get involved with Wreaths Across America

If you would like to get involved with Wreaths Across America, there are many ways to do so. You can donate to the cause, help with fundraising, volunteer your time to lay wreaths, or spread the word about this important event.

Donations are always welcome and appreciated. You can donate online at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org or mail a check to WAA, PO Box 249, Columbia Falls, ME 04623. Be sure to include “In Memory of…” on the memo line of your check so we can apply your donation accordingly.

Fundraising is another great way to support WAA. We have an array of resources available on our website to help make hosting a successful fundraiser easy and fun! From bake sales to car washes, there are many ways that groups big and small can raise money to sponsor wreaths. Visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/fundraising-ideas for more information and downloadable materials.

Volunteering your time is one of the most rewarding ways you can support WAA. Each December, we need thousands of volunteers nationwide to help place sponsored wreaths on veterans’ graves at more than 1,200 participating cemeteries across the country. If you’d like to join us in honoring our fallen heroes by volunteering your time, please sign up at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org

Wreaths Across America is a non-profit organization that coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at cemeteries across the country. The goal of the organization is to remember and honor the men and women who have served our country, and to teach others about the importance of patriotism and service. Wreaths Across America is a wonderful way to show your support for our military veterans, and we hope you will consider participating in a ceremony near you.

You appear to be using an ad blocker

Shore News Network is a free website that does not use paywalls or charge for access to original, breaking news content. In order to provide this free service, we rely on advertisements. Please support our journalism by disabling your ad blocker for this website.