Wreaths Across America Achieves Goal of Honoring Every Veteran Buried at Arlington National Cemetery

In total, 700,000 wreaths were placed across the country for National Wreaths Across America Day

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Dec 13, 2014, 05:35 ET

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Wreaths Across America (WAA), along with nearly 50,000 volunteers, placed remembrance wreaths on the headstones of 230,000 veterans at Arlington National Cemetery. Today's ceremony is the culmination of a dedicated effort to honor each and every veteran interred at Arlington, as well as thousands more across the country. In total, over 700,000 remembrance wreaths were placed in honor of veterans at 1,015 locations nationally and abroad (including Arlington).

Founder of Wreaths Across America Morrill Worcester, and several of his grandchildren, places the two-millionth wreath since he began laying veterans' wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery in 1992. In dedication of the cemetery's 150th Anniversary, Worcester honored Pvt. William Christman, the cemetery's first military burial with the special recognition. Photo courtesy of WAA.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of Arlington National Cemetery, the 23^rd year wreaths have placed there in December and the first year all veterans' graves were honored. As of December 11^th, WAA was still approximately 20,000 wreath sponsorships short of its goal. Morrill Worcester, Maine wreath-maker and founder of Wreaths Across America, accepted a challenge from Maine's First Lady, Ann LePage, to match every sponsorship with one of his own through Friday. "I've always felt strongly that each and every one of the brave men and women laid to rest here must be honored," said Worcester. "It seems fitting that we reached our goal on the cemetery's 150^th anniversary."

Mr. Worcester began delivering the wreaths to Arlington in 1992 as a personal gift. Since the organization's inception as a 501(c)(3) in 2007, his vision has grown to include thousands of fundraising groups and over 1,000 cemeteries nationwide. As part of this year's ceremony, he, along with five of his seven grandchildren, placed the two-millionth wreath (since Mr. Worcester first started laying wreaths in 1992) on the grave of Pvt. William Christman, the cemetery's first military burial. Included in the day's events was a wreath ceremony at the grave of President John F. Kennedy, at the USS Maine Memorial and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Also attending the event on Saturday were Wayne Hanson, Vietnam Veteran and WAA Chairman of the Board; Karen Worcester, executive director of WAA; Edith T. Nowels, convoy Grand Marshal and Gold Star sister of Cpl. Horace "Bud" Thorne, who was killed in action 70 years ago this year in WWII's Battle of the Bulge; countless Gold and Blue Star families; and thousands of veterans.

"It's difficult to put into words the love and sense of family here," said Mrs. Worcester. "All of us coming together is our way of saying thank you and that we'll never forget your service and your sacrifice."

A mile-long convoy of vehicles, including tractor-trailers, buses, motorcycles and cars carrying wreaths, veterans, families of fallen soldiers and supporters, delivered the wreaths from Maine after participating in journey down the East Coast to spread the nonprofit's mission to Remember, Honor Teach. The group stopped at schools, memorials and other locations in communities in Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, before arriving at Arlington this morning.

About Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization's mission, Remember, Honor, Teach, is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as hundreds of veterans' cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. For more information or to sponsor a wreath please visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.

Photos and footage from today's event are available upon request. Please also review the following links for images:

Flickr: http://bit.ly/hctcphotos
YouTube: http://bit.ly/hctcvideos

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141213/164297
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130515/NE14949LOGO-b

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SOURCE Wreaths Across America