Friday, December 14, 2007

Arlington National Cemetery Wreath Project


You have to commend a man like Morrill Worcester, a native of Maine and owner of Worcester Wreath Co. Since 1992, Mr. Worcester has donated surplus Christmas wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery for over 5000 graves. Maine Senator Olympia Snowe helped Mr. Worcester with the initial arrangements. James Prout, owner of Blue Bird Ranch, donated a truck to ship the wreaths to Virginia. Local American Legion and VFW volunteers decorated the wreaths with hand-tied red bows, while members of the Maine State Society worked with Arlington Superintendent John Metzler Jr. to organize the wreath-laying and a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The cemetery assigns a section to the project, and volunteers also lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknowns, the Maine Memorial and the graves of John and Robert Kennedy and former Maine Governor, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State Edmund Muskie.

In an interview in 2005, Mr. Worcester said, "We can’t do anything in this country if it wasn’t for the people who gave their lives to protect us. It’s a great honor to be able to come and pay our respects." No words better say it. I salute Mr. Worcester and all of the volunteers that did this good deed to honor our soldiers. And never let us forget.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYAneQMvEuw

Merry Christmas, my friends.
Bob

No comments: