Wreaths Across America pays tribute to America’s veterans
November-December 2024
(photo courtesy Wreaths Across America)
by Gregg MacDonald, Staff Writer
ON NOV. 11, 1919, PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON PROCLAIMED THE FIRST COMMEMORATION OF ARMISTICE DAY. The date was chosen because it marked the end of WWI, which stopped at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Armistice Day became a national holiday in 1938 and was later changed to Veterans Day in 1954 to honor veterans of all American wars.
While most people are familiar with Veterans Day, not as many may be familiar with another national event that honors veterans about a month later.
Since 2008, Congress has proclaimed one Saturday each December as National Wreaths Across America Day. It will be held this year on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. On this day, veterans and active military members will be honored by millions of volunteers placing live, balsam veterans’ wreaths on the headstones of our nation’s service members. “The fresh evergreens have been used for centuries as a symbol recognizing honor and as a living tribute renewed annually,” says Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. “We want people to see the tradition as a living memorial to veterans and their families.”
In 2023, Wreaths Across America and its national network of volunteers placed over 3 million veterans’ wreaths at 4,225 participating locations in the U.S. and beyond, with help from more than 2 million volunteers nationwide.
One of those volunteers is U.S. Navy veteran David R. Sillaman, a Goldvein, Va., resident and a member of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. Sillaman says that wreaths have been placed on the graves of more than 435 interred veterans over the past five years at 13 local cemeteries in Southern Fauquier County via the Wreaths Across America program.
“The Bealeton/Remington Ruritan Club sponsored this project with assistance from the Remington American Legion Post 247,” he says. “Our goal this year is to place a live, balsam fir wreath at the headstone of every American veteran interred in a local cemetery in Southern Fauquier County. We do this to remember their sacrifice, honor their service, and teach the next generation about the value of freedom. They say everyone dies twice; once physically, and then again when they are no longer remembered. Please help us keep our veterans’ memories alive.”
For more information, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org or contact David Sillaman directly via email at [email protected].