The United Daughters of the Confederacy Colorado River Chapter 2655 are participating in the Wreaths Across America annual project this year, which honors and marks Veterans’ graves.  Below is a story of how the project was started and how the public can take part in this special honoring of our veterans in cemeteries across America.

For 14  years, it was by word of mouth only that each December a truck would arrive with the wreaths from Maine at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia…always at dawn…always dignified…with so little fanfare, it was almost a Christmas surprise.

Each year Worcester Wreath Company donates 5000 wreaths to be placed on the graves t Arlington National Cemetery to honor our Veterans…all during the holidays.  The first year was 1992 when 45 volunteers came to Arlington to help lay wreaths.  By 2010 more than 2,000 volunteers were participating laying 24,000 wreaths.

The project started with the devotion of one man.  Morrill Worchester owns Worcester wreath Company, a business in Maine which makes Christmas wreaths and decorations.  He says when people hear of what we do at Arlington, he is often asked if he is a veteran.  His reply is “I am not, but I have made it my business to Never Forget.”

The image is unforgettable…green Christmas wreaths clad with hand-tied red bows, adorning stark white headstones.  Worcester Wreath Co. is a family owned and operated company since 1971.  Only part of each branch is harvested so that the branch can produce another tip for a future harvest.  No more than half that foliage in a single year is cut so that the tree can remain vigorous.  The balsam products are harvested in a sustainable manner so that the forest maintains its beauty year after year.  The fact is every product is made up of over 90% balsam.  Worcester Wreath is the only wreath company that manages its own forests to provide the freshest balsam in the industry.

The United Daughters of the Confederacy Colorado River Chapter #2655 will sponsor this project locally this year.  Wreaths will be delivered to your Wreaths Across America Location Leader.  This year wreaths will be placed in San Saba City Cemetery, Goldthwaite Memorial Cemetery and in Greenleaf Cemetery in Brownwood on the graves of veterans of all wars and conflicts.  Wreaths may also be ordered for veterans in other cemeteries to be placed by family members.

To honor a veteran in Greenleaf Cemetery, contact Ann Stevens at 325-203-1879 to sponsor a wreath.  Wreaths may be ordered now at a cost of $15 each.  The deadline for ordering is November 15, 2011.  Volunteers will place the wreaths on the graves of the veterans in these cemeteries on December 10, 2011 after a short ceremony, to be held at 10:00am, in conjunction with the National Remembrance Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Normandy Beach, each State House and in all State and National Cemeteries.  For more information visit the national website at WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony.  Pictured above are the wreaths placed at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia.

“In Life they honored their country…In death their country honors them.”