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Our Armed Forces are the real superheros, risking their lives to keep us safe. Honor our veterans and remember the fallen by taking part in this touching ceremony that is sure to bring forth pride and joy. All 560 veteran graves in the Alton National Cemetery will be decorated with balsam wreaths for the holiday season.

Wreaths Across America is an organization devoted to the mission, “Remember, Honor, Teach,” which is carried out in part by wreath laying ceremonies at the same time across the nation at Arlington National Cemetery as well as at veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. This now national program began in 1992, when Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine found themselves with a surplus of wreaths at the end of the season. Owner Morill Worcester made arrangements for the wreaths to be placed in one of the older sections of Arlington, which had been receiving fewer visitors with each passing year.

The tribute went on quietly until 2005, when a photo of the wreaths circulated around the internet. Thousands of requests poured in from countless people that wanted to emulate the project in national and state cemeteries. Worcester sent 7 wreaths – one for each branch of the military and for POW/MIAs – to each state, and in 2006, with the help of the Civil Air Patrol and other civic organizations, wreath laying ceremonies were held simultaneously at over 150 locations across the country. In December 2008, over 300 locations held wreath laying ceremonies in every state, Puerto Rico, and 24 overseas cemeteries, with over 100,000 wreaths placed on veterans’ graves by over 60,000 volunteers. US Congress unanimously voted December 13, 2008 as “Wreaths Across America Day”.

For more information or to learn how to get involved, please click the web link above.