Staff Report
BRADENTON — This Saturday is National Wreaths Across America Day. The event will occur at more than 4,200 participating locations across the country, an increase of more than 500 above last year’s total.
The organization anticipates that more than 3 million volunteers—a third of whom are children—will participate in the event, which presents an opportunity for communities to gather during the busiest time of year to pause and thank all who have served and sacrificed for our freedoms. With each balsam wreath placed, the volunteer will also say that service member’s name out loud to keep his or her memory alive.
National Wreaths Across America Day takes place each December across the country. The organization’s mission is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach the next generation the value of freedom.
Wreaths Across America is successful year after year thanks to the help of millions of volunteers and sponsors. You can click here to sponsor a wreath. Every sponsorship received not only honors an American hero with the placement of a fresh balsam Veteran’s wreath in December, but it also supports the year-round program.
Some of Wreaths Across America’s new and existing free programs include:
- The TEACH Program, with downloadable lesson plans and service-based learning for youth of all ages.
- The Mobile Education Exhibit is a museum on wheels that travels the country sharing the mission and creating free events for the community, while serving as a “Welcome Home” unit for Vietnam War Veterans.
- The National Museum and Gold Star Family History & Hospitality House are located at the National Wreaths Across America Headquarters in Columbia Falls, Maine. These exhibits allow guests to learn more about the mission while experiencing the many stories of service, sacrifice, and success shared with the program over the last 15 years.
- Our Veteran outreach efforts include partnerships with Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) working to support living Veterans and their families nationwide. We offer resources and access to support and host open discussions about important topics impacting this community via our owned channels, including Wreaths Across America Radio, a voice for America’s Veterans. This commercial-free station shares stories of those who served (and their families), highlighting the many like-minded programs supporting this demographic nationwide.
- The Remembrance Tree Program is a free program that allows people to create a replica dog tag for a loved one who served; it also allows them to select a tree to hang that tag on the balsam tip lands in Columbia Falls, Maine, where Wreaths Across America is headquartered. Every three years, the tree will be “tipped” to collect the balsam used to make Veterans’ wreaths for placement on National Wreaths Across America Day.
