Maine (WABI) – Saturday, December 14 is National Wreaths Across America Day.
It’s a National Day of Remembrance for veterans, active-duty military, and their families. Volunteers will gather at thousands of cemeteries nationwide to place wreaths on veterans’ graves.
“Every headstone represents many, many family members,” said location coordinator, Sherri Oliver.
What started as a small gesture of thanks by Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington has grown into a mission across the country.
On Saturday, more than 4,500 locations will join in on Wreaths Across America’s mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach.
Pastor Bobby Oliver will help lead a ceremony at Acadia National Cemetery in Jonesboro at noon. The cemetery serves the needs of veterans, their spouses, and eligible family members.
As a veteran himself, he says Wreaths Across America and the Worcester family are near and dear to his heart.
To boost morale while Oliver served in Iraq, the Worcester’s sent Christmas wreaths to him and the rest of his unit.
“I am thankful for them. I am also thankful for those who give money every year and throughout the year to sponsor wreaths so that we can have them to lay on the gravestones of these veterans. It means a lot to me,” Oliver said.
In conjunction with Arlington National Cemetery, the town of Howland will host a ceremony at noon at Howland Veterans’ Memorial Park.
After the ceremony, more than 700 wreaths will be placed at veterans graves in Howland and surrounding towns.
“It takes that one hour for you to remember one veteran that may never have a family member for years so, for me, it’s worth that hour out of your day,” said location coordinator, Tami Colbath.
This is the first year the City of Brewer will be participating in Wreaths Across America. A ceremony will take place at the Veterans’ Memorial at the Joseph L. Ferris Community Center at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday.
“Brewer is known supposedly now as the “Community of Caring” and I think that this is one thing that we can do that really shows that we care and we care about those who have kept our country free,” said co-location coordinator, Susan Xirinachs.
“At our ceremony on Saturday, we’ll have a truck that a local artist made with the City of Brewer logo and Wreaths Across America logo on it as well and so we are excited to see that and make that part of the ceremony,” explained Brewer City Manager, Eric Glidden.
After Saturday’s ceremony, volunteers will place 350 sponsored veteran’s wreaths on the headstones of all the local heroes laid to rest in Brewer cemeteries.
Click here to find a location near you.
The City of Brewer will host a kickoff event at the Joseph L. Ferris Community on Friday evening starting at 6 p.m.
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