LAYING
WREATHS FOR SOLDIERS

Topics: Holidays; Honor; Mourning; Respect; Thanksgiving; Victory

References: Matthew 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25; Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:23–24

Every December since 1992, Morrill Worcester and volunteers have been laying wreaths on the graves of soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery.

Worcester, owner of one of the world’s largest holiday wreath companies, started Wreaths Across America, the volunteer wreath-laying program, after one of his warehouses called to report an overproduction of several thousand wreaths. “Well, I’m not just gonna throw them away,” Worcester said. He called Washington and asked for permission to lay his wreaths on graves in Arlington. He got it.

“When people hear about what we’re doing, they want to know if I’m a veteran,” Morrill said. “I’m not. But I make it my business never to forget.”

Wreaths Across America is helping reclaim the true meaning of a wreath, Worcester says. “We wanted to get back to the simple idea of what a wreath represents—respect, honor, and victory.”

—Rick Hampson, “Gift of Wreaths Touches Nation,” USA Today (December 15, 2007)