Despite the effects of a winter storm creating a wet and windy morning, the communities of Folsom and El Dorado Hills came together this past weekend to participate in National Wreaths Across America Day. On this day, remembrance wreaths are laid on the graves of veterans at more than 3,700 cemeteries across the nation.
The event is part of an effort led by Wreaths Across America and supported by communities nationwide, including Folsom, to ensure those who have fallen are remembered during the holidays.
Braving the elements last Saturday morning, volunteers from organizations such as the Charlotte Parkhurst Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), the Folsom Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the Rolling Hills Blue Star Moms, and others gathered at Folsom’s Lakeside Memorial Lawn. Together, they dedicated their time to unpacking, preparing, and laying wreaths on the gravesites of those who served.
In Folsom, more than 700 veterans are laid to rest at Lakeside Memorial Lawn. Another 16 are buried at the historic Mormon Island Relocation Cemetery in El Dorado Hills, near the Sacramento County line. On Saturday, those at both locations were proudly honored.
Boxes packed with wreaths were unloaded from a trailer in the parking area of Lakeside Memorial Lawn. From there, volunteers carried the wreaths and trekked across the rain-soaked grounds.
Upon locating the grave of a fallen veteran, each volunteer placed a sponsored wreath on or near the headstone. They then followed the tradition of saying the veteran’s name aloud to honor their service. Many of the veterans who participate annually take the extra step of saluting their fallen brothers and sisters after speaking their names.
“This is such a meaningful experience to be part of, and it only takes a small portion of our day to honor those who sacrificed so much for our nation,” said Sarah Johnson, who attended the event bundled up in a heavy jacket and prepared for the rain. “There’s something truly powerful about coming together as a community to honor those from our community who served. It’s a reminder of the importance of gratitude and remembrance for those who gave everything for our freedom.”
Those that can’t volunteer to distribute wreaths often sponsor wreaths in their communities, something individuals and businesses alike can do all year long by visiting the Wreaths Across America website as they are already starting to accept sign ups and sponsorships of wreaths for next year.
Wreaths Across America’s beginning
Wreaths Across America was established in 2007 by wreath producer Morrill Worcester, assisted by veterans and truckers. Its primary activity is distributing veteran’s wreaths for placement on graves in military cemeteries.
Worcester, was the owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, was a 12-year old paper boy when he won a trip to Washington D.C. It was his first to our nation’s capital and one that would change the trajectory of his life and the lives of millions of others across the country. Seeing the hundreds of thousands of graves and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery made an especially indelible impression on him. It was to be an experience that would follow him throughout his life and successful career, reminding him that his good fortune was due, in large part, to the values of his nation and the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
In 1992, Worcester Wreath found themselves with a surplus of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. Remembering his boyhood experience at Arlington, Worcester realized he had an opportunity to honor our country’s veterans. With the aid of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe (ret), arrangements were made for the surplus wreaths to be placed at Arlington in one of the older cemetery sections that had been receiving fewer visitors each passing year.
As plans were underway to transport the wreaths to Washington, a number of other individuals and organizations stepped up to help. James Prout, owner of local trucking company Blue Bird Ranch, Inc., generously provided transportation all the way to Virginia. Volunteers from the local American Legion and VFW Posts gathered with members of the community to decorate each wreath with traditional red, hand-tied bows. Members of the Maine State Society of Washington D.C., helped to organize the wreath-laying, which included a special ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
In December 2008, the United States Senate agreed to a resolution that designated Dec. 13, 2008, as Wreaths Across America Day. Subsequent National Wreaths Across America Days have been designated on the second or third Saturday of December.