WILMINGTON — Sugar Grove Cemetery is set to participate in the Wreaths Across America program this Saturday — a heartwarming initiative that aims to honor and remember veterans across the nation.
The event, organized with the support of the American Legion, has already seen an overwhelming response from the community, with over 1,500 wreaths donated for the occasion, according to Kirby Keltner, Sugar Grove Cemetery technician.
Wreaths Across America started as a simple gesture of thanks that has grown into a national, yearlong movement of dedicated volunteers and communities coming together to not only remember the nation’s fallen and honor their service, but to teach the next generation about the value of freedom. This year, there will be more than 3,700 participating locations placing veterans’ wreaths on National Wreaths Across America Day – Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 – with more than two million volunteers coming together.
Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine, initiated the Wreaths Across America program in 1992, inspired by his own poignant experience as a 12-year-old in Washington D.C. Worcester, now a successful businessman, had won a trip to the nation’s capital, where he was deeply moved by the graves at Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The surplus wreaths from Worcester Wreath Company were initially destined for Arlington, with the help of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe and local volunteers. James Prout, owner of Blue Bird Ranch, Inc., played a crucial role in transporting the wreaths to Virginia, where community members, along with the American Legion and VFW Posts, adorned each wreath with red, hand-tied bows. The Maine State Society of Washington D.C. also contributed to organizing the wreath-laying ceremony, including a special tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Sugar Grove Cemetery is proud to continue this tradition, with volunteers gathering on Saturday at 9 a.m. for a brief meeting and instruction session at 9:15 a.m. Those interested in participating can arrive at the cemetery or sign up to volunteer on the Wreaths Across America website for updates and information before the event.
The wreath-placing ceremony is scheduled for 3 p.m. on the same day, just inside the main entrance of Sugar Grove Cemetery. This touching tribute not only honors the memory of veterans but also fosters a sense of community and gratitude for the sacrifices made by servicemen and women.
