An update from Representative Ingraham
December means cool (and I do mean cool) winter breezes are ushered in, snowflakes make their appearance and for most of us, we begin the look forward to celebrating Christ’s birth on December 25th. In preparing for the Christmas celebration, many of us begin by decorating our homes, looking for that perfect Christmas tree and hanging a wreath upon our door. The wreath’s shape has been used symbolically for centuries. The circle or ring shape is symbolic of eternity or eternal life, because the shape has no beginning or end.
December is also a time to remember our military service men and women in a special way, and this Saturday, December 14th, is one of those times as it is the National Wreaths Across America Day. National Wreaths Across America Day is when wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves in over 850 locations all around the country, including Sanders County. Thousands of volunteers take time to honor our fallen military service men and women who have given so much for their country and have said their final goodbyes to families, friends and loved-ones. The placement of wreaths during the Christmas season is another opportunity to say “we will never forget.”
The Wreaths Across American project began in 1992, by Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, when his company found themselves with a surplus of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. He realized he had an opportunity to honor our country’s veterans with those surplus wreaths. However, Mr. Worcester’s desire to honor the veterans began long before 1992.
When Mr. Worcester was a twelve year old paper boy for the Bangor Daily News, he won a trip to Washington D.C. It was his first trip to our nation’s capital and was one he would never forget. His visit to Arlington National Cemetery made an especially indelible impression on him and it was this experience that followed him throughout his life and successful career in business, reminding him that his good fortune was due, in a large part, to the values of this nation and the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
With a surplus of wreaths and an opportunity to honor veterans, Mr. Worcester, with the help of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, made arrangements for the wreaths to be placed at Arlington in one of the older sections of the cemetery, a section which had been receiving fewer visitors with each passing year. As plans were underway, other individuals and organizations stepped up to help. American Legion and VFW Posts gathered with members of the community to decorate each wreath with red, hand-tied bows. And for that first wreath laying ceremony, the 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.
Since its humble beginnings, the program has grown substantially and the Worcester Wreath Company found itself unable to donate the thousands of wreaths needed in each state, so Worchester began sending seven wreaths to every state, one for each branch of the military and for POW/MIAs.
In 2006, with the help of the Civil Air Patrol and other civic organizations, simultaneous wreath laying ceremonies are held. For those of us in Montana, the National Wreaths Across America Day will be held this Saturday, December 14th, in various towns throughout the state, such as Kalispell, Missoula, Bozeman, Great Falls, Columbia Falls and Miles City, where wreaths will be placed in honor of our service men and women.
Now it’s your turn to “Keep in Touch” by contacting me regarding your questions, concerns or just to talk. I can be reached via e-mail at pathd13@blackfoot.net, or call me at 827-4652 or by mail at P.O. Box 1151, Thompson Falls, Montana 59873.