National Wreaths Across America Day is on Saturday, Dec. 16, and will take place at more than 4,200 participating locations across the country. This number of locations, which includes Arlington National Cemetery, is more than 500 above last year’s total.
Wreaths Across America anticipates that more than 3 million volunteers—a third of whom are children—will participate in National Wreaths Across America Day. The event provides a wonderful opportunity for communities to gather during the busiest time of year to pause and say thank you to all who have served and sacrificed for our freedom. With each balsam wreath placed, the volunteer will also say that service member’s name out loud and keep his or her memory alive.
National Wreaths Across America Day is a meaningful event that takes place each December across the country. Wreaths Across America’s mission is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach the next generation the value of freedom. It’s a year-long mission that bring together communities and families all over the country.
Wreaths Across America is successful year after year thanks to the help of millions of volunteers and sponsors. Every sponsorship received not only honors an American hero with the placement of a fresh balsam Veteran’s wreath in December, but it also supports the year-round program. Some of Wreaths Across America’s new and existing free programs include:
- The TEACH Program, with downloadable lesson plans and service-based learning for youth of all ages.
- The Mobile Education Exhibit is a museum on wheels that travels the country sharing the mission and creating free events for the community, while serving as a “Welcome Home” unit for Vietnam War Veterans.
- The National Museum and Gold Star Family History & Hospitality House are located at the National Wreaths Across America Headquarters in Columbia Falls, Maine. These exhibits offer guests an opportunity to learn more about the mission while experiencing the many stories of service, sacrifice and success shared with the program over the last 15 years.
- Our Veteran outreach efforts include partnerships with Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) working to support living Veterans and their families nationwide. We offer resources and access to support and host open discussions about important topics impacting this community via our owned channels, including Wreaths Across America Radio, a voice for America’s Veterans. This commercial-free station shares stories of those who served (and their families), while highlighting the many like-minded programs supporting this demographic around the country.
- The Remembrance Tree Program is a free program that allows people to create a replica dog tag for a loved one who served; it also allows them to select a tree to hang that tag on the balsam tip lands in Columbia Falls, Maine, where Wreaths Across America is headquartered. Every three years, the tree will be “tipped” to collect the balsam used to make Veterans’ wreaths for placement on National Wreaths Across America Day.
Additionally, there are more than 6,000 local sponsorship groups supporting the mission across the country. These groups represent local charities, VSOs and programs giving back to the local community throughout the year. Since 2007, Wreaths Across America’s $5 pay-back group sponsorship program has resulted in more than $22 million in contributions being made to organizations, enabling them to provide care for our active duty service members, Veterans and their families.
There are many ways you can help support the Wreaths Across America mission. To sponsor a wreath, find a sponsorship group or location to support in your community, or find details for volunteers wanting to participate at an event, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
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Why aren’t all Veterans at the Az national cemetery given Christmas wreaths
My Dad and Husband are both at Tahoma National Cemetery and I can tell you from first hand knowledge many many graves do not receive wreaths, usually they are all placed up front and the ones in the back are empty except for the ones that are local and family members provide. No Veteran in that cemetery should be overlooked unless it is requested by the family.
Very nice I’m with my feelings in all my body’s ;especial in my heart ♥️ thanks very much to the volunteers the Lord Bless you always. Merry Christmas!!! Amen! My husband rest in Ford Sam❤️? he was a Vietnam soldier.Frederick C Willison. He it’s a honor for me. San Antonio TEXAS
Anchors aweigh!!!
Semper fi
I am disappointed that this Administrator has allowed some here to leave negative comments. When I see Scouts laying wreaths on participating headstones. It makes me feel good someone will leave a wreath on my father’s grave.
[Editor: Censoring our community’s speech is illegal and would be a violation of their first amendment rights. You can read more about what is allowed in this space, here: https://news.va.gov/disclaimer/ ]
This is something I did with my Dad every year. We loved it! Now I do it for my Dad.
Proud daughter of a Vietnam Veteran!
Wish there was a link to be a volunteer or find a contact person link, etc…there is none above (unless I missed it).
Click on the blue lettered “Wreaths Across America” at the top. That will take you to what you are looking for.
My Father a proud WWII veteran is there. I have always thought it was beautiful and would love to assist. My father and my brothers are ALL Veterans, and I work at Hines and it has been an honor serving and caring for these veterans for twenty something years, in honor of my family who has served in WWII, Vietnam, Desert storm, it is an HONOR.
I am in my push to get to all of the VA right away but I need were I go now to the best location in My home location:
Pat Leary Gribbon
My sister and I went to visit my dad’s grave at the Los Angeles National Cemetery, and to check on availability for myself. We were overcome with despair at the sight of homeless veterans that have created an encampment that lines a very large portion of the cemetery’s border. It seems to me that deceased veterans would rather see the funds needed to finance this WAA program spent on the living rather than the dead. Helping living, homeless veterans seems like a better expenditure of limited donatable income.
My wife is buried at Cape Canaveral national Cemetery. I have placed a Wreath on her grave for 5 years now and it is an honor.
I am a Viet-Nam Veteran, ’65-’66 & a VFW Life member from Post 399, Westport, Ct.
wishing “Happy Holidays” to all veterans. Now located in South Florida where the
weather is stormy – rain, wind and chilly temps expected to last thru Sunday but I intent to find a organization I can help on Saturday.
I have a uncle who was KIA in WW I and is buried in CALVARY CEMETERY in WOODSIDE, QUEENS COUNTY, NEW YORK, USA. Section 8 . His name is PVT. Daniel J. MITCHELL I would very much like to have a wreath placed on his grave. But I live in NC and I am 100 % disabled and unable to visit his grave in person. Could you arrange to have a wreath placed on his grave? Naturally I will pay for whaever costs are incured. I have already donated $30.00 to Wreaths Across America.
William F. Borer. (Msgt. USA, Retired)
My father, James Preston Beard, an Iwo Jima WIA, died in 1971, is in Fairview Cemetery in Culpeper Va.
How about putting a wreath on his grave?
I’m a 30 year Navy veteran and feel like the is being forgotten slowly I’m ? Disabled and where I live now we are gradually recognized I want to thank my family friends in my community for their support
Do you have this program in Leonard TX 75452?
Whom would I contact in my city of Boston to participate?
Iam a veteran and I live in Ephrata Pa. I would like to know how I can help plac e them.
I love what people are doing to honor the fallen Veterans and myself someday.
I am disappointed that we constantly show pictures of headstones when in fact, the rest of us are going to be buried with a small brass plaque in the ground that when you look at over the field of remembrance, all you see is grass— it’s a field of forgetfulness, not a field of remembrance, and you don’t show that: you show pictures of headstones, which iis misleading to those of us who will not even be noticed.
My friends and myself will be buried in a field of forgetfulness.
That saddens me.
As a veteran I would like to participate laying wreaths this Saturday the 16
th. Do I contact the National Cemetery in Dixon California?
My wife and I both disabled Veterans and want to volunteer in Salisbury NC and lay wreaths on the graves of those who have pass on.
Is thier on in Orlando Florida?
I plan to place a wreath on the headstone of my father and grandfather at Ft. snelling, MN this season. I am a U.S. Army Veteran as well and hope my kids do the same for me someday.
Thank you for your service to this great country. I am a retired Air Force vet/Iraq War Veteran and I am originally from St. Cloud. My Dad and Uncle are buried there. Korean War Vets. Your last name sounds familiar. When I visit them again I will swing by and salute your Father and Grandfather.
Thank you for sponsoring and organizing Family Day at Arlington National Cemetery this past Sunday. It was our first time attending and it was so organized and supported with helpful volunteers.
To be able to place our wreaths on our family member graves in the calmness of the day, in spite of the rain, was comforting.
Thank you.
How bout some actual contact information to allow folks to engage. Less marketing more substance .
This looks very self serving as posts below note. Similar to WWF who literally gives single digit donations from the billions they take in for veteran causes and has the nerve to pay their executives in 6 figure salaries – cmon people.
Are you a NFL quarterback for the Eagles? If so you and your fellow “players” have no right to question the salaries of Wounded Warrior Foundatiion Executives. Pat Tillman would be ashamed. I am a 100% disabled and WWP has done more for me than any other service organization!
How do you know these vets ‘ want a reef on ther graves have you ask the family’s . ?
Where do I find an event near me?
My zip code is 92310
My HUSBAND HAS SERVED FOR THIRTY AND HE STILL WORKS FOR DAV DISABLED VETS.
AS HIS WIFE IM DISABLED AND HE HAS BEEN DISABLED!!!
I object to this function that our government is endorsing and advertising. Not only is it presumptuous to think that our dead soldiers and their families would want a wreath on their grave but a good portion of our fallen soldiers are not Christian, and thus would be offended by a stranger insisting that their grave displays the Christmas Wreath!
What worse, this is all a ploy developed by Morril Worcester, owner of the wreath company that “won the government bid” to provide the non-profit (WAA, that they helped form) to supply the wreaths. Morril Worcester is taking advantage of our nation’s gratitude by scamming people and profiting off our nation’s fallen soldiers. This all started as a way for him to profit & write off unsold inventory.
WHY does the VA continue to support this forced religious symbol while continuing to provide taxpayer money through a loophole back to a for-profit company! Where is the accountability?!? If Morril WOrcester really wanted to help honor the fallen, there are scholarships and foundations that serve veteran families directly. Surely, given the choice, the families would want help with education over a wreath.
I completely agree with you Major Tom. This thing was bordering on “scam” from the start. It may sound callous, but the money, time and effort spent on laying a wreath on a dead soldier’s grave could much better be spent on our living veterans and their families.
Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. I am a veteran, and we live in a small town with a small local veteran cemetery which is fortunate enough to benefit for the wreath laying ceremony. What a beautiful tribute for those who served this country! I question whether “Major Tom” is truly one of those patriots. If I’m wrong, my apologies, and “Thanks for your Service!”
Sergeant Jim
Crawl back under your rock “major”. zif they in spirit prefer to not have one I’m sure they have risrn to a high rough level to ignore it and super their brothers snd sisters who do appreciate it. Maybe you dhould for the same.
If the family does not want a wreath on the grave of their loved one all they have to do is contact the site and let them know about it.
I am happy to participate is the laying of the wreaths, its what we do in my family and yes I was in the Marine Corps so I know how all that crap goes.
Just say no thanks to the wreath.
Last year we had a couple of graves that did not get a wreath for this very reason because the family indicated that one was not wants.
Next time read the fine print to find out about the program.
Well said. Appreciate your thoughts on this matter. Didn’t know this information. Thanks for sharing. 30yr Vet
I would like to attend again.im with wwp and do this every year
Are you laying wreaths in Green lawn cemetery in Columbus Ohio?
https://popular.info/?utm_campaign=pub&utm_medium=web
You may want to read this story before giving money to this organization
How does someone volunteer to participate?
No man left behind.
Are they laying wreaths anywhere near me? I’m in zip code 77406…Richmond, Texas
I’d like to Volunteer to lay wreathes in the Georgia National Cemetary in Canton, Ga.
Are you laying wreaths in Green lawn cemetery in Columbus Ohio?
How can I participate in laying the wreaths at the Sacramento Valley Vet”s Cemetery. Need the date and time
This is always great. BUT, when is there a wreath laying or an honoring for the SPOUSES? I grew up in the Air Force and what my mom went through with 3 kids, moving when Dad was already at a duty station, dealing with schools, finding extracurricular things for us to do, explaining why Dad couldn’t be at graduation, etc., it was hard on her, and she battled it as hard as my dad. I got married at 22 and had already moved 11 times. Mom moved another 7 times! I later joined The US Army Band “Pershing’s Own”…no moves but a lot of out- of-towns. My husband (an Army brat) helped raise our son through my career with Mom’s help. It’s time to honor spouses for their HUGE sacrifices as well…especially those who lost their spouses and walked on alone. The Gold Stars don’t go far enough for spouses.
MSG (ret.) Beverley Benda
how do I volunteer for Delaware cemetery?
I can’t walk very well or bend over, because of hip surgery or I would do this. Have always wanted to do this. Sons and husband are veterans. Never seen this before.