When Morrill Worcester, founder of Wreaths Across America and owner of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine, was just 12 years old, he won a trip to Washington, D.C., as a paper boy for the Bangor Daily News. His first visit to our nation’s capital left a lasting impression, especially his experience at Arlington National Cemetery. As he built his business, that memory stayed with him, reminding him that his success was possible because of the values and sacrifices of our nation’s veterans.
In 1992, Worcester Wreath had a surplus of holiday wreaths. Remembering that visit, Morrill saw an opportunity to honor veterans at Arlington, focusing on older sections of the cemetery that had received fewer visitors. With the support of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, local trucking company Blue Bird Ranch, and volunteers from the American Legion, VFW, and the Maine State Society of Washington, D.C., the wreaths were transported, decorated with red bows, and laid with a special ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
What began as a simple gesture of remembrance grew into the foundation of Wreaths Across America’s mission: to Remember, Honor, and Teach.
Learn more about our mission: About Wreaths Across America »
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