National Wreaths Across America Day is held every year on December 19th. The organization is on a mission to lay a holiday wreath on every veterans grave across America. Currently 2100+ cemeteries are participating and that number continues to grow every year.
The organization works with various corporate sponsors, civic groups, school & scouting groups, local communities and everyday citizens to help generate funds to sponsor the project. You can find a lot of information about the project and the organization by visiting their website.
Last year was our first time volunteering to lay wreaths and we participated in the ceremony at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. You can volunteer to lay wreaths and/or sponsor a wreath for a fallen veteran. All of this can be done through their website. It’s a great program to get involved with.
We spent several hours that day laying wreaths on graves. You carry and lay one wreath at a time to show respect. So, it does take a lot of time, walking and energy…but was really worth it! Freedom is NOT FREE and this is one way we can all pay our respect to our fallen heroes.
It was a really humbling experience and we felt honored to participate. Plus, we really learned a lot. A project this large took several days to complete so we went back 2 weeks later to see how it all came together. It was beautiful to see all of those Christmas wreaths on the graves! Thousands and thousands of wreaths!
The experience was fantastic and we’ll be participating again this year on National Wreaths Across America Day on December 19th, 2020. It’s NOT too late to get involved. You can visit the Wreaths Across America website to learn more and to see how you can help. We highly recommend it.
Note: Photos in this post are from 2019 at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery when we were there.
I still love looking at the pictures. They are so peaceful at this time of the year. They are so beautifully done.
This is a nice project. Being married to a disabled vet, I thank you for remembering he fallen and often forgotten vets. I hope also people remember those in convalescent homes ad those home bound or homeless this season.
What a lovely idea and way to give thanks and remembrances for those who served for our freedom. We owe so much to our veterans.
This is so beautiful and so important. Thank you for sharing this information and these pictures.
What a beautiful tradition and a wonderful way to honor our vets. I wasn’t aware people could volunteer to help.
i didn’t know about this and I think it is a great ideal. Will have to check if we have anything like this around here
That is so nice. I don’t know how to volunteer but I doubt I would do it this year anyway. Maybe next year. Thank you for sharing.
That’s a good thing for you to do. As a veteran, I thank you.