2008 Wreath Laying Ceremony at Springdale Cemetary, Peoria, Illinois
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Videos of 2008 Ceremony Peoria Journal Star Photos from 2008 WEEK News Article from 2008    Sign my Guestbook  View my Guestbook	Worcester Wreath Co. and its involvement with the Arlington project was inspired when at the early age of 12 years old, as a Bangor Daily News paperboy, Morrill Worcester won a trip to the Nation's Capital. It was a trip he would never forget, and Arlington National Cemetery made an indelible impression. In later life, he recognized that his success as a businessman was in large part, due to the values of this Nation and the Veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. In 1992, Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine found themselves with an excess of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. Seeing an opportunity to make a boyhood dream a reality, efforts to do something special with those wreaths began in earnest. With the help of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe and the Maine State Society of DC, arrangements were made for the wreaths to be placed at Arlington. Again an impression was made and he vowed to bring the wreaths every year. In 2006, in response to thousands of e-mails and letters, Worcester Wreath expanded its wreath donations nationwide. With the help of the Civil Air Patrol and many others, ceremonies were held simultaneously at 230 locations. From the snow banks of Alaska to the sands of Iraq our Nation's heroes were honored. From here Wreaths Across America was born. Heading into our eighteenth year and over 300,000 wreaths later, the original group has been joined by many others who wish to participate in the project each year.		By early 2007, with so many requests for cemetery wreaths, the Worcesters reached out to the community and the nonprofit group Wreaths Across America was formed. Mr. Worcester doubled his yearly pledge to Arlington to 10,000 wreaths and continued his tradition of sending 2,500 to the Maine Veterans Cemetery along with providing wreaths for the veteran's graves in the local communities of the small county he grew up in. Again in 2009 Ceremonial wreaths for each branch of the military will be sent to all of the participating State and National cemeteries along with many local town cemeteries. Wreaths will also be provided for 24 offshore cemeteries, including Normandy Beach and a large Veteran's commemorative wreath will be sent to each state's State House. Inspired by his commitment Wreaths Across America has turned its attention to answering the requests of many to emulate the Arlington project at their State veteran's cemeteries. By offering sponsorships to the public, Wreaths Across America hopes that one day every veteran's resting place will be adorned with a wreath. We need your help to make this a reality. Your wreath sponsorship places a wreath on a Veteran's grave and helps to fund Veteran and educational outreach. DECEMBER 12, 2009 11 AM Central Time
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