Wreaths Across America Presents Annual Awards Honoring the Exceptional Efforts Made to Remember Our Nation's Veterans

ARLINGTON, Va., April 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- National nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA), who in 2016 celebrates its 25th year of placing live, balsam remembrance wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery, presented its annual Remember, Honor, Teach, and Founders awards Tuesday evening. The acknowledgments were made during a special reception at Fort Myer hosted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office Military Association (UMA).

Each award recognizes individuals and organizations that exemplify WAA's mission —Remember, Honor, Teach — by going above and beyond in efforts to honor those who have served and sacrificed for this country.

This year's recipients:

Bre Kingsbury, a WAA volunteer and military spouse, is the recipient of the Remember Award. This award is given to an individual for exceptional effort in remembering the fallen and their sacrifice. Kingsbury received the Remember Award for her dedication to building awareness and tireless efforts to ensure that a remembrance wreath was placed at every headstone and at the bottom of each column in the Columbarium and on the niche wall — 240,815 in total — at Arlington National Cemetery in December 2015.

The staff of Arlington National Cemetery are the recipients of this year's Honor Award. This award is given to those who honor veterans and their families in a way that promotes WAA's mission. Cemetery Executive Director Patrick Hallinan — who accepted the award on behalf of the cemetery — and the Arlington National Cemetery staff received the Honor Award for supporting the expansion of WAA's wreath-laying events over its 25-year history.

Nancy Willey, WAA volunteer and retired educator, is the recipient of the Teach Award. This award is given to an individual who has made a large contribution in teaching the importance of remembering and honoring those who serve or have served in our military. Mrs. Willey was given the Teach Award for her commitment to developing and advancing school-age-appropriate content supporting WAA's educational curriculum.

The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), are the recipients of the Founders Award. This important distinction is given each year to those who exemplify WAA's mission to Remember, Honor, Teach, and demonstrate active support of our nation's military. The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment was given the Founders Award in recognition of the unit's role as never-wavering sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, for funeral service details rendered and for its role in teaching the public about the service and sacrifice of our veterans.

Since 2007, the Remember, Honor, and Teach awards have been chosen from recommendations received by WAA's national volunteer base and decided on by the members of WAA's executive board. The Founders Award — which was first given to WAA founder Morrill Worcester in 2006 by his family — is chosen by Morrill himself.

"Since 1992, that first year we placed wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery, the Old Guard has graciously allowed me to choose the participants for the annual noon wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier," said Worcester. "It is an experience that deeply touches the lives of every person granted the honor to participate, and for this, I will be eternally grateful."

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 at 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.

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SOURCE Wreaths Across America

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