At
noon Saturday, December 10, a ceremony will be
held for the presentation of seven wreaths as
Bonners Ferry joins in another tradition
honoring our fallen veterans, Wreaths Across
America. The ceremony, conducted by American
Legion Post 55, will take place at Veteran's
Memorial Park at the Boundary County Library.In 1992, Worcester Wreath found themselves with a surplus of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. Remembering his boyhood experience at Arlington, Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company, realized he had an opportunity to honor our country’s veterans. Arrangements were made for the wreaths to be placed in one of the older sections at Arlington, a section which had been receiving fewer visitors with each passing year.
The annual tribute went on quietly for several years, until 2005, when a photo of the stones at Arlington, adorned with wreaths and covered in snow, circulated around the internet.
In 2006, simultaneous wreath laying ceremonies were held at over 150 locations around the country.
The annual trip to Arlington grew each year until it became clear the desire to remember and honor our country’s fallen heroes was bigger than Arlington, bigger than one company.
In 2007, the Worcester family, along with veterans, and other groups and individuals formed Wreaths Across America, a non-profit organizations whose mission is simple: Remember. Honor. Teach.
In 2008 over 300 locations held wreath laying ceremonies in every state, Puerto Rico and 24 overseas cemeteries. Over 100,000 wreaths were placed on veteran’s graves. Over 60,000 volunteers participated.
December 13, 2008, was unanimously voted by the US Congress as “Wreaths Across America Day.”
In 2010, Wreaths Across America laid over 220,000 memorial wreaths at 545 locations including Pearl Harbor Memorial, Bunker Hill, Valley Forge and the sites of the September 11 tragedies. The wreath laying is still held annually, on the second Saturday of every December.
Run for the Fallen-Idaho is proud to join hands with WAA in its effort to honor as many of our fallen as possible across America. You can find out more about the organization by visiting http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
Our mission is two-fold: first, to raise money for WAA through the sale of wreaths. For every wreath we sell a second wreath will be laid at a soldier’s gravesite at Arlington and at our veteran’s cemeteries here in Idaho.
Second, in honor of Boundary County’s fallen heroes we will be conducting the county’s first wreath laying ceremony on December 10 at noon. This will involve the presentation and ceremonial laying of seven specially crafted wreaths dedicated to each branch of the military; Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Coast Guard, as well as a special MIA/POW wreath. We hope that you will want to join us for this very special event.
On Veteran's Day, 50 wreaths crafted by Run For the Fallen - Idaho members were made available for sale, and already 32 have been sold. For $15, one wreath goes to the buyer and a second is laid by WAA at a Veteran's gravesite in one of the four Idaho Veteran's Cemeteries. The wreaths remaining will be available for purchase through December 10.
To reserve your wreath or to find out more, call Jess at (208) 627-2675.