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Robert F. Bukaty / AP
Traffic moves by a parked convoy of tractor-trailers carrying wreaths on Sunday in Portland, Maine.
PORTLAND, Maine -- Twenty years ago, wreath company owner Morrill Worcester and a dozen other people laid 5,000 wreaths on headstones at Arlington National Cemetery. It was Worcester's way of giving thanks to the nation's veterans with leftover unsold wreaths.
This year, Worcester has arranged for up to 100,000 wreaths to be placed on gravesites at the military cemetery Dec. 10 in his biggest wreath-laying undertaking yet.
A convoy of more than 20 trucks left Worcester Wreath Co. in the eastern Maine town of Harrington on Sunday to begin the six-day journey to the cemetery in Arlington, Va., outside Washington, the final resting place for hundreds of thousands of veterans and a tourist site that draws 4 million visitors a year. Along the way, there'll be ceremonies at schools, veterans' homes and in communities in Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.
Worcester never expected the wreath-laying effort to grow from a single tractor-trailer carrying a few thousand wreaths to 84 big rigs delivering wreaths to Arlington and hundreds of locations. Besides the Arlington ceremony, his Wreaths Across America organization has also organized more than 700 other ceremonies at veterans' cemeteries and monuments across the country and overseas involving 225,000 wreaths.
Robert F. Bukaty / AP
Morrill Worcester applauds veterans at a ceremony at Chevrus High School Sunday in Portland, Maine.
"We haven't really tried to push it; it's really just grown on its own," Worcester said. "We have a hard time keeping up with it."
Worcester, who has never served in the military, came up with the idea of a wreath-laying ceremony 20 years ago when he found himself with an extra 5,000 wreaths in December, too late to bring to market. He decided upon Arlington National Cemetery, which he had visited as a child.
After that first year, Worcester continued donating wreaths and holding ceremonies at the cemetery. The event remained relatively small with little fanfare until a photo, showing thousands of green wreaths with red ribbons nestled against headstone on a snow-covered ground, made its way around the Internet about five years ago.
After that, Worcester got thousands of emails and letters from people wanting to donate, and inquiries from others asking how they could hold wreath-laying ceremonies of their own to pay tribute to those who have served in the military. So he and his wife founded the nonprofit Wreaths Across America to take in donations and organize hundreds of wreath-laying ceremonies at veterans' cemeteries.
Wreaths Across America put 24,000 wreaths on Arlington headstones last year, and initially hoped to put them on virtually all 220,000 headstones this year. That initiative fell short, but Worcester said he's still pleased that they'll be able to put out 100,000 of the laurels.
Of the 325,000 wreaths in all of this year's ceremonies, Worcester is donating 25,000. His company makes the rest, but they are paid for through donations from groups and individuals and through corporate sponsorships.
Leave a Comment:
Mr. Morrill Worcester, God Bless You Sir........
I'll give you an "Amen" to that, Mr. Taylor. This is what we in the USA are really about.
Mr. Worcester, Thank you for your compassion for our military personnel. May God Bless you.
We sponsor 2 wreaths each year in memory of our aunt and uncle. You can choose a specific cemetary from their list or let them decide. It is only $15 a wreath so worth the money to show a little appreciation for the service personnel who gave their lives for our freedoms.
It is a beautiful site to see the wreaths. I was there one year visiting my Dad's grave when they came with them .Such a wonderful way to honor our military...Merry Christmas.
Thank you Mr. Worcester! You are a true patriot.
The wreaths are breathtaking.
And thank you everyday to all the veterans.
If you are interested in donating to Wreaths Across America, here is the website: http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/
Too few companies/people like this one. Thank You!
Merry Christmas to Mr Worcester ,GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!! ITS TIME THE LEFTISTS LEAVE DC
Must you insist upon turning a heart-warming, non-partisan story into a political rant?
I doubt Mr. Worcester is checking each deceased soldier's voting registration and only putting wreaths upon the grave markers of soldiers with whom he agreed politically.
Paul,
There is no doubt that you do not have hemorrhoids, you are a perfect @!$%#!
This statement from a confirmed right-winger.
ROFL@Spike
^5
I sponsor 2 wreaths in memory of my husband and my grandfather who were Marines. They are buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Thank You Mr. Worcester and Merry Christmas.
Echoing what has already been said, God Bless you Mr. Worcester! Thank you for your kindness and thank you to all who have donated and/or served!
God Speed to these 84 trucks and Wreaths Across America and Thank You Mr. Worcester. A true American.
I have one of their wreaths on my front door - they do beautiful work. And what a great tribute to the people who serve our country.
What a great American this man is. Thank you, sir!
Sorry, newsvine posted this twice. Deleting the duplicate.
Mr Morrill Worchester is truly a great America. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
How much of the money spent laying wreaths at the graves of dead soldiers could have been spent improving the lives of soldiers that are still alive? We have homeless veterans all over the country. The dead don't need plants put on their graves- the living need food in their bellies.
I'm a decorated combat veteran of the 82d Airborne Division. I tell you right now: When I'm dead, don't lay a wreath at my grave. Buy a living veteran a meal or donate money to a program that helps veterans. It costs about the same and will do more good.
Imagine how much good the money used to buy those wreaths could have done if it had been used to help the living...
This is bull@!$%#! More attention should be given to the living! For God's sake! Please!!!
The money spent is being used for the living... to remember all those who sacrified so you could voice your opinion. It would be wonderful if more government spending were used to help veterans and the disabled veterans, rather than being used for making more veterans and disabled vets.
Rather than rant on a webpage, tell the President, your senator, and your member of Congress to quit wasting money and spend it on the needs of the nation rather than the needs of the corporations...
For me, the truck full of wreaths symbolizes grief and guilt for the needless loss of our youth. Other than World War II which might have been avoided if not for needless World War I, what has been accomplished during the past century from war? Look at Britain which lost way too many of their best because an Archduke from Austria was assassinated. Look at the cream of our youth, fighter pilots, lost over Vietnam, sacrificed for a "domino" theory. I recently drove south from Reno, NV on the "Veterans Highway", a tribute to our men who served. As the the number of signs for each of our wars increased as the miles went by, there was too much time at even 70 mph to get through all of them without reflecting on the futility of most of it.
I notice a few people with differing opinions of ways to best use the money collected for the wreathes. Please remember that Mr. Worcester is thanking Veterans who gave their all for this country. These men were KIA or wounded or retired from the armed forces of this country. I am a Veteran, I doubt I'll be buried in a military cemetery since I prefer cremation when these tired bones give out finally. I thank you Sir for your recognition of the sacrifices these men and women have made for their country.
God Bless The American Veteran! Without him we would be a different place.
Thank you for your service, Les.
By the way, I am a member of the American Legion and the Chaplain for our Posts Legion Riders. My wife and I donated all of our Christmas money to sending care packages to Soldiers serving in Afghanistan. Every time I go through the airport (at least twice a month) I look for service men or women so I can buy them lunch. It's the least I can do to show my thanks for their sacrifices.
When I travel, which is weekly, I always go out of my way to thank the service members I see in the airport.
Since my lounge memberships allow guests, I offer them access to the airline lounges as well (although many of the lounges offer free access to service persons in uniform).
I also always try to "donate" to service persons my (sealed) drinks that I have leftover from my stay that can't go through security.
It's not a whole lot, but hopefully I can brighten someone's day.
That is pretty much what we Maine people are like. Thanks for representing us Mr. Worcester...you are a true citizen.
I'm a disabled American Vet. Thanks Mr Worcester for remembering the men and women who served our country. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thank you for your service, Dan.
I love reading articles like this. Thank you Mr. Worcester. While some people say the money could be better spent on the living and disabled vets (which is also a great idea), the thought of these service men and women, who paid the ultimate price, being forgotten in their lonely graves also bothers me. Why should we forget them because they are gone? I think this is a very moving gesture.
And to Les A, thank you too. Your gesture is also sweet. I was sitting in an airport 6 years ago in my dress whites (I'm Navy), having just gotten out of bootcamp the day prior, and this lady was sitting across from me and she thanked me for my service. It brought tears to my eyes (not that I allowed anyone to see that), and it is something I remember to this day, and I'm sure other military personnel you've encountered will remember you for years to come too. Even a simple "Thank You" is really all that is needed to make us feel appreciated.
Thank you for your service, Mindy.
God bless America, and Mr. Worcester!