CHRISTMAS AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I wonder why the press hasn't enlightened the public about it??

Arlington National Cemetery .



Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.

Know the line has held, your job is done.

Rest easy, sleep well.

Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.

Peace, peace, and farewell...



Readers may be interested to know that these wreaths -- some 5,000 -- are donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington , Maine . The owner, Merrill Worcester, not only provides the wreaths, but covers the trucking expense as well. He's done this since 1992. A wonderful guy. Also, most years, groups of Maine school kids combine an educational trip to DC with this event to help out. Making this even more remarkable is the fact that Harrington is in one the poorest parts of the state.

[sugarbee]

 

[Brad]

Worcester Wreath and its involvement with the Arlington project was inspired at the early age of 12 years old when, as a Bangor Daily News paper boy, Morrill Worcester won a trip to the Nation’s Capital. It was a trip he would never forget, and Arlington National Cemetery (Official Site)made an indelible impression. In later life, he recognized that his success as a businessman was in large part, due to the values of this Nation and the Veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

In 1992, the Wreath Company found themselves with an excess of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. Seeing an opportunity to make a boyhood dream a reality, efforts to do something special with those wreaths began in earnest. With the help of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, arrangements were made for the wreaths to be placed at Arlington in one of the older sections of the cemetery, a section which received fewer visitors with each passing year.

 

With plans underway, a number of other participants began their support for the    project. James Prout, owner of Blue Bird Ranch, Inc generously provided and transportation all the way to Virginia. Volunteers from the local American Legion and VFW Posts gathered with members of the community to decorate each wreath with signature red, hand-tied bows. Member of the Maine State Society of Washington, DC and John Metzler, Jr, Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery worked to organize the wreath-laying, including the incorporation of a special ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Now over fifteen years and over 100,000 wreaths later, many volunteers participate in the project each year. After learning of the annual trek to Arlington to honor our fallen heroes, Larry Ross, an elementary school teacher from Canaan, Maine, has taken several groups of his students to help with the wreath-laying.

The Maine Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, under the guidance and leadership of Majors Wayne Merritt and Dennis Murray also participated and in the annual event over the last several years. Each student group conducts fundraising events throughout the year to make the trip.

Please note: many people have expressed a desire to donate to this cause. Worcester Wreath Company is committed to continue their Arlington Wreath Project, now expanded by the Wreaths Across America campaign. Worcester Wreath cannot and will not accept any donations. Those who are interested however, may support by sending donations to:

Wreaths Across America
PO Box 256
Harrington, ME 04643
www.wreathsacrossamerica.org
 
 

"I started Worcester Wreath Co. in 1971. That first year I sold 500 wreaths. Over the past 37 years with the help from my family, our business has grown to sales of over 500,000 wreaths.

I happen to think this incredible growth could only be accomplished in America because of the freedoms we all enjoy.

Of course, our freedoms did not come without a tremendous cost and sacrifice. Over the past 231 years, nearly 1,000,000 Americans, men and women, have given the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. Millions more gave years of their lives in the military services and were lucky enough to come home safely.

I know our wreaths placed on the veteran's graves each year is a very small gesture.
I only wish we could do more."

Morrill Worcester, Founder

Wreaths Across America

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Worcester Wreath and its involvement with the Arlington project was inspired at the early age of 12 years old when, as a Bangor Daily News paper boy, Morrill Worcester won a trip to the Nation’s Capital. It was a trip he would never forget, and Arlington National Cemetery (Official Site)made an indelible impression. In later life, he recognized that his success as a businessman was in large part, due to the values of this Nation and the Veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

In 1992, the Wreath Company found themselves with an excess of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. Seeing an opportunity to make a boyhood dream a reality, efforts to do something special with those wreaths began in earnest. With the help of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, arrangements were made for the wreaths to be placed at Arlington in one of the older sections of the cemetery, a section which received fewer visitors with each passing year.

 

With plans underway, a number of other participants began their support for the    project. James Prout, owner of Blue Bird Ranch, Inc generously provided and transportation all the way to Virginia. Volunteers from the local American Legion and VFW Posts gathered with members of the community to decorate each wreath with signature red, hand-tied bows. Member of the Maine State Society of Washington, DC and John Metzler, Jr, Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery worked to organize the wreath-laying, including the incorporation of a special ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Now over fifteen years and over 100,000 wreaths later, many volunteers participate in the project each year. After learning of the annual trek to Arlington to honor our fallen heroes, Larry Ross, an elementary school teacher from Canaan, Maine, has taken several groups of his students to help with the wreath-laying.

The Maine Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, under the guidance and leadership of Majors Wayne Merritt and Dennis Murray also participated and in the annual event over the last several years. Each student group conducts fundraising events throughout the year to make the trip.

Please note: many people have expressed a desire to donate to this cause. Worcester Wreath Company is committed to continue their Arlington Wreath Project, now expanded by the Wreaths Across America campaign. Worcester Wreath cannot and will not accept any donations. Those who are interested however, may support by sending donations to:

Wreaths Across America
PO Box 256
Harrington, ME 04643
www.wreathsacrossamerica.org
 
 

"I started Worcester Wreath Co. in 1971. That first year I sold 500 wreaths. Over the past 37 years with the help from my family, our business has grown to sales of over 500,000 wreaths.

I happen to think this incredible growth could only be accomplished in America because of the freedoms we all enjoy.

Of course, our freedoms did not come without a tremendous cost and sacrifice. Over the past 231 years, nearly 1,000,000 Americans, men and women, have given the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. Millions more gave years of their lives in the military services and were lucky enough to come home safely.

I know our wreaths placed on the veteran's graves each year is a very small gesture.
I only wish we could do more."

Morrill Worcester, Founder

Wreaths Across America

Cool addition to the thread 

[Dubsvalk]

This should be in every newspaper, and on every tv news show.  But, somehow, the liberal media doesn't think it is important.
Bernie

[Garfield]

This should be in every newspaper, and on every tv news show.  But, somehow, the liberal media doesn't think it is important.
Bernie

Hell, Fox news hasen't even reported it.

[JimL]

Good post...thanks for sharing.

[Mary (Ontario)]

another interesting article, "Americans, Canadians to meet for wreath exchange honoring veterans"

"Wreaths Across America will honor the service and sacrifice of military veterans from the U.S. and Canada with a wreath exchange."

http://www.capvolunteernow.com/news.cfm/americans_canadians_to_meet_for_wreath_exchange_honoring_veterans?show=news&newsID=9430

[robin]

Excellent post Joe 

[shortleg]

  I am there every year at this time for Mom and Dad.
Funny the things the that they think are news.
      Shortleg[Dave]

[Big Rig]

Typically the NE PGR escorts them down....

[alph]

we went to Arlington this last summer.  truelly a beautiful place.  it amazes me how straight lined all the head stones are. 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Arlington National Cemetery Facts
 
Arlington Mansion and 200 acres of ground immediately surrounding it were designated officially as a military cemetery June 15, 1864, by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton.

More than 300,000 people are buried at Arlington Cemetery.

Veterans from all the nation's wars are buried in the cemetery, from the American Revolution through the Iraq and Afghanistan. Pre-Civil War dead were reinterred after 1900.

The federal government dedicated a model community for freed slaves, Freedman's Village, near the current Memorial Amphitheater, Dec. 4, 1863. More than 1,100 freed slaves were given land by the government, where they farmed and lived during and after the Civil War. They were turned out in 1890 when the estate was repurchased by the government and dedicated as a military installation.

In Section 27, are buried more than 3,800 former slaves, called "Contrabands" during the Civil War. Their headstones are designated with the word "Civilian" or "Citizen."

Arlington National Cemetery and Soldiers Home National Cemetery are administered by the Department of the Army. All other National Cemeteries are administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the National Park Service.

Arlington House (Custis-Lee Mansion) and the grounds in its immediate vicinity are administered by the National Park Service.

The flags in Arlington National Cemetery are flown at half-staff from a half hour before the first funeral until a half hour after the last funeral each day. Funerals are normally conducted five days a week, excluding weekends.

Funerals, including interments and inurnments, average 28 a day.

With more than 300,000 people buried, Arlington National Cemetery has the second-largest number of people buried of any national cemetery in the United States. Arlington National Cemetery conducts approximately 6,900 burials each year. The largest of the 130 national cemeteries is the Calverton National Cemetery, on Long Island, near Riverhead, N.Y. That cemetery conducts more than 7,000 burials each year.

The Tomb of the Unknowns is one of the more-visited sites at Arlington National Cemetery The Tomb is made from Yule marble quarried in Colorado. It consists of seven pieces, with a total weight of 79 tons. The Tomb was completed and opened to the public April 9, 1932, at a cost of $48,000.

Three unknown servicemen are buried at the Tomb of the Unknowns:

A joint-service casket team holds a U.S. flag outstretched above the casket bearing the remains of the Vietnam Unknown, while President Ronald Reagan places a wreath at the casket's head during entombment ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery.

Unknown Soldier of World War I, interred Nov. 11, 1921. President Harding presided. Unknown Soldier of World War II, interred May 30, 1958. President Eisenhower presided. Unknown Soldier of the Korean Conflict, interred May 30, 1958. President Eisenhower presided, Vice President Nixon acted as next of kin. An Unknown Soldier of the Vietnam Conflict, interred May 28, 1984. President Reagan presided. The remains of the Vietnam Unknown were disinterred May 14, 1998, and were identified as those of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael J. Blassie, whose family has reinterred him near their home in St. Louis, Mo. It has been determined that the crypt at the Tomb of the Unknowns that contained the remains of the Vietnam Unknown will remain empty.) The Tomb of the Unknowns is guarded by the U.S. Army 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) began guarding the Tomb April 6, 1948.

On July 24, 1998, U.S. Capitol Police Officers John Michael Gibson, 42, and Jacob Joseph Chestnut, 58, were killed in the line of duty. They are buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Special Agent Gibson is buried in Section 28. Officer Chestnut, a retired Air Force master sergeant, is buried in Section 4.

In addition to in-ground burial, Arlington National Cemetery also has one of the larger columbariums for cremated remains in the country. Eight courts are currently in use, with over 38,500 niches. In addition to the columbarium courts, inurnments take place in Arlington National Cemetery’s Niche Wall Columbarium in section 70 as well. The Niche Wall Columbarium has the capacity for more than 6,500 niches.

When construction is complete, there will be nine courts with a total of over 60,000 niches; capacity for more than 100,000 remains. Any honorably discharged veteran is eligible for inurnment in the columbarium.
 

[LilAbner]

 THANKS!! Great post.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

 I am there every year at this time for Mom and Dad.
Funny the things the that they think are news.
      Shortleg[Dave]

Very cool Dave    How's Harold doin' ? Don't see him around here anymore.

[HayHauler]

Awesome post Joe.
Thanks,
Hay 
Jimmyt

[Valkahuna]

Mr. Morrill Worcester,

As an American, and a Vietnam Veteran, I thank you and salute you sir! America is what she is because of people like you!

Joe, as usual, a great post. Thanks for publicizing it. I have a friend that goes down from New England every year to help.

[shortleg]

    Harold is busy doin carveing for a living now.
 He is doing Santa,s for Cristmas and is really busy.
  Also is haveing a few health problems, but is still
one of the best out there.
         Shortleg[Dave]

[Ice]

The unfortunate fact is that this is not news to the media, there is no excitement in relaying a story of our brothers and sisters who gave all in the line of duty, and are remembered on this solom of days for their sacrifice that we may live free.

Great Post Joe, 

Nuff said....