At a recent holiday party, some friends were sharing a tradition that their family had been involved with for years. They volunteer at the Christmas wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in our nation’s capital.
The ceremony that’s now in its 32nd year begins in Maine where the wreaths are made, packaged and distributed to national cemeteries around the world. As you’ll see in the video attached from the ceremony in 2011, once harvested and assembled, the largest military parade begins, as the wreaths make their way to their various destinations.
Like a military funeral, the caravan is given an honor guard as it makes its way through the towns along the route to Washington, DC. Once the wreaths arrive, several Sundays in the month of December are earmarked for volunteers to lay the wreaths at the headstones of our country’s fallen heroes.
Like the planting of the American flags that takes place at National Cemeteries on Memorial Day weekend, this effort takes thousands of volunteers to accomplish. While it’s not necessary to sign up to help, individuals who want to participate in this tradition often line up in the pre-dawn darkness to offer their services.
Additional information on the program and how to participate can be found at the Wreaths Across America website:
You might also enjoy this three-minute video entitled Escort to Arlington that provides a glimpse into the entire process.
Lest we never forget.
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