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Wreaths for America’s Heroes
Written By: Jenny King | Issue: 2018/11 - November
Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, was a 12-year-old paper boy for The Bangor Daily News when he won a trip to Washington D.C. His first trip to our nation’s capital was one he would never forget, and Arlington National Cemetery made an especially indelible impression on him. This experience followed him throughout his life and successful career, reminding him that his good fortune was due, in large part, to the values of this nation and the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
In 1992, Worcester Wreath found themselves with a surplus of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. Remembering his boyhood experience at Arlington, Worcester realized he had an opportunity to honor our country’s veterans. Arrangements were made for the wreaths to be placed at Arlington in one of the older sections of the cemetery that had been receiving fewer visitors with each passing year.
Twenty-six years later, this one act of kindness has grown to become a
worldwide event.
On December 15, National Wreaths Across America Day, the mission to remember is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 1,400 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad. That includes a local celebration in Highlands.
The theme this year is “Be Their Witness,” a line from the movie “Taking Chance.” There will be a showing of the movie at Highlands United Methodist Church on Sunday, November 11, at 6:00 P.M. to help raise funds to purchase wreaths for the event. There is no charge for attending the movie, but donations are gratefully accepted.
The local Wreaths Across America program begins at noon and there will be shuttles from the Highlands Community Building taking you to Highlands Memorial Park. If you’d like to purchase a wreath to honor a loved one, contact organizer Phil Potts at (828) 200-9753 and if you’d like to learn more about Wreaths Across America, visit WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.
