LITTLETON, Maine — Each year on National Wreaths Across America Day, millions of Americans, a third of whom are children, come together to remember the fallen, honor those that serve and their families, and to teach the next generation about the value of freedom.
Locally, for the last two years the Maine Agri-Women have “adopted” a cemetery in Aroostook County to host a Wreaths Across America ceremony. The first ceremony was held at the Bridgewater cemetery and last year at the Mapleton cemetery where we were able to place 131 wreaths on veterans graves. There were over 100 people who attended including Adrian Carver from Houlton, a 99-year-old veteran who later passed away in 2019.
This year, the official National Wreaths Across America Day will begin at noon Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Littleton Cemetery on U.S. Route 1. Maine Agri-Women invites everyone to this free event as citizens across the nation come together on this day to lay wreaths on the headstones of our hometown heroes and also to recognize veterans for their service.
Each year, a new theme is chosen by the national organization to help local volunteers and supporters focus their messaging and outreach in our communities. This year, the theme is “Everyone plays a part.”
The inspiration for this year’s theme was a recommendation made by 10-year-old “Mighty” Miles Worcester, the grandson of the founders of Wreaths Across America, Morrill and Karen Worcester.
Last May, while in Washington D.C. for an event, Miles saw a U.S. Service member in uniform at the hotel where he was staying. As he always does, Miles walked up to the gentleman, reached out to shake his hand and thanked him for his service. And his response was simple and impactful — “Thank you…everyone plays a part.”
Miles went directly to his grandmother, WAA Executive Director Karen Worcester, to tell her that he believed this statement would be the perfect theme because, as he said, “those serving in the military are doing their part, but it is our part as Americans to remember and honor them, and that’s what Wreaths Across America does.”
The millions of volunteers and supporters – from schoolchildren and educators, professional truck drivers, first responders, veterans, Gold Star and Blue Star families, to corporations and other nonprofits – devote so much of themselves to the mission to Remember, Honor, Teach, in their own communities.
Each of them, playing a part in helping to plan and participate in local events and fundraising activities, sponsor and transport wreaths, and raise awareness.
When asked how he feels to know so many people across the country come together each December to Remember, Honor and Teach, Miles said without hesitation, “It makes me feel proud to be an American.”
In 2018, nearly 1.8 million veteran wreaths were placed on headstones at 1,640 participating cemeteries around the country in honor of the service and sacrifices made for our freedoms, with each name said out loud.
For more information about the Littleton event, please contact Nancy Wright 538-8905 or Becky Miller 538-6189. It is always a free event and open to all people. For information on how to volunteer locally or sponsor a wreath for a hero, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/MELTCL.
