Arlington Wreath Project

I'm patriotic...obnoxiously so. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that I came from a land ruled by a totalitarian and oppressive government. Living in the United States is, for me, both a privilege and a gift from God, and one I do not take for granted. I realize the USA is not perfect. I'm not blind to its weak spots, though I choose to dwell on what's good and honorable about this great land.

With that in mind I'm sharing with you what one man, who's not even a veteran, is doing to honor this country. The Arlington Wreath Project is for real. I checked them out at Snopes.com, where we read,

Morrill Worcester initially brought 4,000 surplus wreaths from the holiday decoration company he owns to adorn gravesites at Arlington in 1992. Every year since then he has set aside several thousand wreaths especially for that purpose, driving to Arlington in December with a trailer full of decorations and dozens of volunteers to distribute them throughout the cemetery.

Since 1992 Worcester Wreath has donated 75,000 wreaths. Mr. Worcester has now expanded the Arlington Wreath Project into Wreaths Across America. For as little as $15 you can sponsor the placing of a wreath on a lain soldier's grave. Your gift is tax deductible. The website lists the closest participating locations where wreaths will be placed this year.

I loved reading what Mr. Worcester has to say, "it takes a lot of hands and a lot of hearts to make this happen each year. It is our way of giving something back, because without the sacrifices of our Veterans, and their families, we wouldn't be in a position to do any of this. The Arlington Project and Wreaths Across America is about the spirit of appreciation for what we have, and a determination to give something back."

That pretty much says it all. All I can add is a heartfelt thank you to our Veterans and to one man's vision of how to honor them.