Wreath-Laying for Veterans: ‘Remember, Honor, and Teach’
- Dec 23, 2008 - 1
For some visitors to the nation’s capital recently, their attention was not on the National Christmas Tree and the Pageant of Peace outside the White House but on the celebrated cemetery overlooking the city from the western banks of the Potomac.
Thousands journeyed to Arlington National Cemetery on December 13 for “Wreaths Across America,” an annual event held to pay homage to the veterans who gave their lives fighting for the freedom we enjoy today. On a cold, cloudless morning, some 10,000 wreaths were laid on the headstones in Section 12, an older, less-visited section of Arlington. At noon, the commemoration was capped with a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
VIDEO – Wreaths Across America (YouTube)
What made the day all the more significant was the untold man-hours of labor and miles traveled by the event’s organizers. Escorted by an entourage of motorcyclists known as the Patriot Guard Riders, two trucks, packed with handmade evergreen wreaths punctuated by red bows, made the 770-mile trip from northeastern coastal Maine to Washington, D.C. The Harrington, Maine-based Worcester Wreath Company has turned an idea conceived in the mind of a then12-year-old boy—now the company’s president—and birthed decades later (1992) into an annual pilgrimage.
Now in its seventeenth year, “Wreaths Across America” has expanded beyond the nation’s best-known cemetery; it had a presence in all 50 states this year, reportedly more than 350 cemeteries in all.
The mission is threefold: “Remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach our children the value of freedom.” I witnessed all three as I participated in the solemn memorial at Arlington for the first time. Families came to pay respects to a father, a grandfather, a son, a friend. Others with no loved ones buried in Arlington came to pray for the families of fallen soldiers unknown to them. One man kneeling at a grave a few yards from me came alone; his facial burn scars perhaps a visible reminder to himself and to others of the sacrifice he made on the battlefield for his country.
“Wreathes Across America” has a remarkable way of uniting families and strangers alike. The bond could not have been more apparent to me, even as a first-time participant. Socioeconomic status and political leanings all seemed to fade away. Reflection upon this great experiment called America, where freedom has been secured by the blood, sweat, and tears of hundreds of thousands before us, overshadowed all differences. For those few hours, all who came were simply Americans.
The hillside of Arlington seemed to level for all who decorated the graves, somewhat like the level ground that all can find at the foot of a hill called Calvary. One hill signifies the sacrifice of a soldier to break the bondage of tyranny. The other represents the sacrifice of a Savior to sever the cords of sin. Both offer liberty of their own kind. And both are worthy for us to “remember,” “honor,” and “teach” this Christmas.
VIDEO – Wreaths Across America (YouTube)
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1 On Dec 24th, 2008, at 1:02pm, James E. Reeves wrote:
A belief in Christ implies He rules His people and applies judgement, blessings,and punishment to His people first. Let judgement begin first at the house of God.
Our constitution implies rights that are inailenable to citizens and protected by and enforced by our military, judicial, legislative, and executive branch of government, but only one branch dies to defend those rights.
The real encroachment of rights that continue to endanger comes from the other three branches of government.
Americans need to regard those military sacrifices as blood on the door-post to lead us out of judicial, executive, and legislative bondage.
The constitution has been diluted and misinterpreted by legal engineers from all three branches of government to further the greed of money and power for too long.