Video

Video by Mary Cochran

Wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery

Dec. 15, 2014 | 2:18

Nearly a quarter of a million wreaths decorate gravesites throughout the 624 acres of Arlington National Cemetery. More than 40,000 volunteers placed 'Remembrance Wreaths' commemorating Arlington’s 150th anniversary. Mary Cochran Smith reports on National Wreaths Across America Day.
Arlington National Cemetery is enhancing the tour program beginning January first. More tour stops throughout the cemetery, hop-on and hop-off service and free shuttles to specific gravesites will be some of the extended services. There will also be discounts to military members and veterans. More details at arlingtoncemetery.mil.
Background Information: This is WAA’s 23rd year laying wreaths at our nation’s cemetery, and it marks the largest number of wreaths ever sponsored and delivered — including the laying of the two-millionth wreath nationwide, to honor Pvt. William Christman, the first solider to be buried at Arlington. A convoy of more than 25 vehicles left Harrington, Maine on Sunday, Dec. 7, to begin the six-day journey to Arlington National Cemetery. It includes tractor-trailers, donated by trucking companies and driven by volunteer drivers, as well as buses, motorcycles and cars transporting veterans, families of fallen soldiers and supporters. About Wreaths Across America -
Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s mission Remember, Honor, Teach is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at hundreds of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. For more information, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
For more information about this event, please contact Amber Caron at (207) 513-6457 or acaron@kempgoldberg.com, or contact Arlington National Cemetery Public Affairs at (877) 907-8585.