What does it mean to Remember, Honor, and Teach?
While we have Veterans Day in the fall and Memorial Day in the spring, our servicemen and women sacrifice their time and safety every single day of the year, to preserve our freedoms. In many American homes, every day there is an empty seat for one who is serving or one who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and never came home. That is why the Wreaths Across America mission to Remember, Honor and Teach lasts all year long, far beyond the single day in December when we coordinate wreath-laying ceremonies. All throughout the year, Wreaths Across America works in a number of ways to show our veterans and their families that we will not forget—we will never forget. Read on to see the many ways we Remember and Honor our veterans, and Teach the next generation to do the same.
“To be killed in war is not the worst that can happen. To be lost is not the worst that can happen… to be forgotten is the worst.”
— Pierre Claeyssens (1909-2003)
Who We Remember
From the Revolutionary War to present day conflicts, our veterans are devoted sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers. They come from all backgrounds in life to place those lives on the line for our freedoms. There are millions of individual stories to tell. Get to know them by viewing the 4,760 recent posts made by our supporters or sponsor a wreath in honor of or in memory of an American hero.
When a volunteer places a wreath on a veteran's grave on National Wreaths Across America Day, we encourage them to speak that veteran's name aloud, thank them for their service and sacrifice, and reflect on that person and their life. Along with our wreath-laying ceremonies at cemeteries throughout the country, WAA also holds a number of special memorial ceremonies, including:
* Special memorials held at Pearl Harbor, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania
* The HART Ceremony (Honoring Allies and Remembering Together), conducted each year to honor veterans of our nation’s allies in ceremonies on international border-crossing bridges between Calais, Maine, and St. Stephen, New Brunswick; Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario; and Sweetwater, Montana, and the Alaskan/Canadian border
* WAA-hosted statehouse ceremonies in nearly all 50 states
In addition, WAA continues its commitment to remember our fallen servicemen and women all throughout the year with the following:
Veterans Remembrance Tree Program
The Veterans Remembrance Tree Program was established as another way to remember and honor our veterans. As many Gold Star families visited the land where the balsam tips are harvested each year for the wreaths that are placed on veteran’s graves, they found a sense of peace and tranquility from being in such peaceful surrounds. TO ensure that more could experience this unique place, WAA established this program to provide a living memorial to their lost loved ones.
Any family participate in this program by providing information on their loved one. Due to the overwhelming support of this program, WAA has purchased its own dog-tag machine, allowing the families of the veteran the ability to customize their message for the tag. The family is then taken out to the balsam tip land to find a tree that will become a living memorial to their loved one. The dog-tag is then placed on the trunk of an evergreen tree of their choosing and a red marker is placed on the tree to show that it has been chosen as a memorial. The trees are kept in production and are tipped every three years with those balsam tips being used to make the veteran’s wreaths that are placed each December.
The Wreaths Across America Museum
Located at the National Wreaths Across America Headquarters in Columbia Falls, Maine, the WAA Museum is a 1,800-square-foot facility showcasing hundreds of items that have been donated to Wreaths Across America over the decades, including personal photos, awards, uniforms, helmets and other military memorabilia. All donations help to provide insight and tell the greater story of the experiences of U.S. military personnel.
“Over the years, hundreds of people have shared precious memories and donated their personal belongings to us to ensure that the legacy and sacrifices of their loved ones survives,” said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America. “This Museum is the perfect forum for us to share their stories and the valuable items that we’ve been so honored to receive, while at the same time offering the public a place of comfort and healing.”
The WAA Museum, located at 4 Point Street in Columbia Falls, ME, is open year-round. Visiting hours are Monday through Friday, from 9AM to 3PM.
Map to museum
How We Honor Those Who Serve
Wreaths Across America conducts several programs to honor our veterans, including our popular “Thanks-A-Million” campaign, which distributes FREE thank-you cards to people all over the country to share with veterans as a simple thank-you for their service.
The organization participates in veterans’ events throughout the year and has a veteran liaison on staff to work with local veterans’ organizations, as well as public outreach through Veterans Day and Memorial Day programs, public service announcements, press coverage and the WAA website.
The Mission Continues
Service, Sacrifice, Success
While coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies each December on National Wreaths Across America Day is the most visible part of what we do, our mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach is carried out throughout the year. Our service members and veterans deserve (and sometimes need) our support all year round. At WAA, we believe it's our responsibility to invest in our living Veterans so that they may thrive in our communities.
Over the last 13 years, our "$5 back" sponsorship group program has resulted in more than $15 million in contributions to organizations around the country; enabling them to provide care for our active duty service members, veterans, and their families.
Wreaths Across America believes in a "no wrong door" approach to serving our veterans. We're often asked, "I'm worried, and I don't know who to ask?" There are many resources available and, in the interest of promoting a whole community approach, we've attempted to compile a list of those resources.
Our listing is constantly growing. If you are an organization providing support to veterans in your community please contact our Director of Military and Veteran Engagement by selecting the "Add A Resource" button below.
What we Teach future generations
Wreaths Across America is proud to share its expanded TEACH program and collaboration with like-minded organizations that focuses on character development and service projects for young people of all ages, with lesson plans for all grade levels and learning abilities. To learn more and download WAA’s TEACH materials, please click here: Our TEACH Page.
What is a Veteran's Wreath?
Each balsam bouquet that comprises a veteran's wreath symbolizes a special quality. Please check out the materials below that help to explain those qualities in order to help to deepen your and your child's understanding and personal connection with our core mission.
