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WAA Background: BE THEIR WITNESS, This is the WAA
SLOGAN for 2018. Wreaths Across America, a 501 (C)(3) NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION, founded by MAINE BUSINESSMAN MORRELL WORCESTER, IN 1992. The organization’s MISSION: REMEMBER – HONOR – TEACH, REMEMBER: those brave MEN and WOMEN who are no longer with us, some paid the ultimate sacrifice for the FREEDOMS we are accustomed to; HONOR: the SERVICEMEN and WOMEN serving today, defending FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY around the world and at home; TEACH: our children about the sacrifices made and PRICE paid for the FREEDOMS they enjoy every day. WAA is observed annually the SECOND OR THIRD SATURDAY IN DECEMBER, in all 50 STATES AND 24 FOREIGN COUNTRIES. DECEMBER is WAA Month. THE NATIONAL GOAL is to place wreaths on every Veteran’s grave in our National Cemeteries. Many cities across the United States of America (AS WE ARE TODAY) also place wreaths on Veterans’ graves in local cemeteries. OUR GOAL IS TO PLACE FLAGS AND WREATHS ON EVERY VETERAN’S GRAVE OF COFFEE COUNTY. Currently, we are placing flags and wreaths on OVER 2,600 VETERANS’ GRAVES AT 74 CEMETERIES. There are many more in Coffee County.
SINCE 1992, the Arlington project had been the quiet mission of Morrell Worcester and his family. IN 2005, it WENT NATIONAL with the involvement of THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS.
IN 2006 with the help of the CIVIL AIR PATROL, and other CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, more cities got involved. The PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS volunteered to escort the wreaths going to Arlington. THIS BEGAN the ANNUAL “VETERANS’ HONOR PARADE” that traveled the east coast in early December.
IN 2007, the WORCESTER FAMILY, along WITH VETERANS and other groups and individuals FORMED WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.
DECEMBER 13, 2008 was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED BY CONGRESS AS WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY. The wreath laying is still held annually, on the SECOND OR THIRD SATURDAY OF DECEMBER.
THE ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE from HARINGTON, MAINE to ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY has become known as the WORLD’S LARGEST VETERANS’ PARADE, STOPPING at schools, monuments, Veterans’ homes and communities all along the way to REMIND PEOPLE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO: REMEMBER – HONOR - TEACH
OUR WREATHS JOURNEY BEGAN
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018: Departed Columbia Falls, Maine; made EIGHT (8) STOPS: Kershaw, SC; Sumter, SC; THREE IN Akin, SC, Hilton Head Beach, SC and Grovetown, GA before ARRIVING in Douglas, GA at 3:15 PM, Wednesday evening, December 12, 2018.
At each stop along the trip, there was a LUNCHEON CELEBRATION in the break room and PASSING THE WREATH CEREMONY. boxes of Wreaths honoring EACH BRANCH of the United States Military, Prisoners of War and Missing in Action (POW / MIAs) were Unloaded for that location.
NORMALLY, the relaying DRIVER PASSED A NEW WREATH TO THE NEW DRIVER at each office to place on the front of his / her tractor. OUR WREATHS were transported all the way by: MR. NORMAN MAYFIELD, driving for PAM TRANSPORT. Mr. Mayfield is an Army Veteran from San Antonia Texas.
THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 13, 2018: He arrived at his last stop, the Douglas City Cemetery around 8:00 AM. Wreaths were UNLOADED and placed on Veterans’ Graves in 74 CEMETERIES where OVER 2,600 VETERANS identified for 2018 are buried, by members of American Legion Post 515; Community Volunteers; family members; organizations and friends.
The MISSION: REMEMBER – HONOR – TEACH
Members of American Legion Post 515 are doing our very best to accomplish that mission
