Wreaths Across America Honors Our Veterans
The mission of Wreaths Across America is to Remember the fallen; Honor those who serve; and Teach the next generation the value of freedom. On December 14, participants remembered their loved ones at 4,225 locations in all 50 states and other places abroad. Locally, the wreaths were delivered on December 16, 2023 at the Escalante Cemetery with a program and distribution of the wreaths.
Escalante City Council Member Marlene Stowe welcomed the audience of 30 and thanked them for coming to salute ALL veterans. Jenny Evans sang the Star Spangled Banner and Ex-Marine Dan Gardner, Escalante High School History teacher, gave a summary of how Wreaths Across America was started.
In 1992, Morrill Worcester, the founder of Worcester Wreath Company, had a big surplus of holiday wreaths at the end of the season. He remembered going to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia and donated 5,000 wreaths to honor the cemetery’s dead. For the next thirteen years, he continued making similar donations. When a photo of gravestones decorated with wreaths went viral on the internet, Worcester received thousands of requests from people wanting to do something similar in their local cemeteries. In 2014, volunteers placed 700,000 wreaths, and in 2016, that number grew to 1.2 million wreaths. The program continues to grow across the nation and across the world.
Following the program, family members and community supporters stood before each of the 171 veterans’ graves, said their names aloud, and then thanked them for their service. Wreaths were also placed at the Veterans Memorial at the Escalante City Park.
The Wreaths Across America Foundation honors individuals who support their mission with the following awards. Information on applying for these awards can be found on their website: wreathsacrossamerica.org.
Remember Award: Given annually to an individual or group who REMEMBERS the fallen and their sacrifice in a way that goes above and beyond.
Honor Award: Given annually to an individual or group who HONORS those who serve and their families in a way that supports the Wreaths Across America mission.
Teach Award: Given annually to an individual or group who has made a large contribution in TEACHING the next generation to Remember and Honor those who serve in our nation’s military.
Learn Award: Given annually to a young individual who has learned, and understands, the Wreaths Across America mission and incorporates it into their young life.
Escalante City is now accepting donations for 2024 to continue this new tradition of Remembering, Honoring, and Teaching in connection with our veterans.
– The Byway
Feature image caption: Wreaths were placed at the Escalante Veterans Memorial in the city park, as seen here on December 22, 2023.
Read how students learned to honor veterans in Education at Its Whirlwind Finest: Garfield 6th Graders Go to Washington.