On Saturday following a sunrise service at West Quoddy Head Light, a convoy left a quiet corner of Downeast Maine headed to Arlington National Cemetery on an important mission to deliver tens of thousands of handmade wreaths to remember our fallen Veterans, honor those who serve, and teach the children the value of freedom. Every December since 1992, the Worcester Wreath Company of Columbia Falls, Maine, coordinates a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 3,400 additional locations in all 50 states, at sea and abroad. Thanks to dedicated staff and a team of volunteers, this touching tribute of laying wreaths on the graves of those who have served our country continues, culminating with thousands of volunteers laying wreaths at approximately 247,000 grave markers at Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday, December 17, 2022. 

For the complete schedule for the 2022 Escort to Arlington of where the convoy will be stopping, and to participate in events along the route, please visit Wreaths Across America. As Karen Worcester, Executive Director of Wreaths Across America, notes, “For those who have had the opportunity to participate in the escort of wreaths over the years, it is truly an experience of a lifetime. The way we and the mission are welcomed into communities, with flags waving and streets lined with children and veterans, is something we always wished every American could witness. This year we’re hoping that supporters will once again join us in lining the roadways safely and welcome the mission into their communities.”

You will also find on their website information on how you can Sponsor a Wreath. Your sponsorship will ensure that a hand-crafted wreath will be placed on the marker of a fallen hero, and that a volunteer will then “say their name” to ensure that the legacy of duty, service and sacrifice of that veteran is never forgotten.

Then on Saturday, December 17, 2022 observe Wreath Across America Day by volunteering to lay a wreath at a cemetery near you in your community, or just by simply pausing in your day to reflect on the lives of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country. To learn more, and how you can volunteer, please visit WreathsAcrossAmerica.org. You can also follow the convoy with live updates at Wreaths Across America on Facebook and on Twitter at Wreaths Across America, or tune in to Wreaths Across America Radio to listen to updates.