ARLINGTON, Va. — It’s a reverent way to honor America’s fallen heroes during the holidays.
In its 23rd year, Wreaths Across America achieved a goal its founder has long held, to raise enough funds to place a fresh balsam remembrance wreath at the final resting place of every veteran at Arlington National Cemetery.
Days ago, 25 trucks with Wreaths Across America left Harrington, Maine and pulled into Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday morning.
Meeting them, close to 50,000 volunteers who woke up early on Saturday, Dec. 13 and braved the cold temperatures for different reasons.
“It’s important to come here and pay your respects, I believe — especially around the holidays, too,” says Army weapons specialist Keith Bridgeman.
Bridgeman met up with a friend who served in the Navy for more than two decades. His focus was to ensure wreaths made it to the grave markers of each of the unknown soldiers.
“That’s someone’s brother, family member, dad, uncle, and there’s no name. So those to me mean more than anything else,” Bridgeman says.
Many who volunteered, like Bridgeman, served in the Armed Forces. But others came for their love of country.
“It’s a blessed place, that’s for sure,” says Helen Tucker.
It was Tucker’s first time taking part in the event. With her Marine Corps brothers in her thoughts, Tucker says she decided this was the year.
Tucker grabbed a friend and drove down from Palestine, Illinois to honor the fallen veterans buried at Arlington.
“I just think it’s wonderful to have this opportunity and feel you’re doing something for the people who have given their lives,” Tucker says.
After a short ceremony, volunteers took a fresh wreath in each hand and walked into a designated section of the cemetery. It was an overwhelming task, given the expansive grounds, and part of Army Sgt Derek Rae’s charge to ensure they were placed with care.
“You know, not letting people take 10 at a time and just start chucking them out there. It’s not a race,” Rae says.
Volunteers were asked to take time at the veteran’s resting place they chose to honor and to speak their name.
“This may be the only time that some of these stones have been visited for several years. We thought it would be a good idea to come out and honor those people especially,” says Retired Army Sgt. Kenneth Green.
Green brought his family out on the cold morning to take part. It was a family affair and pulled in volunteers from all backgrounds.
Later in the day, the organization’s two millionth wreath was laid at the grave of Pvt. William Christman, the first soldier buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
At the end of the day, volunteers placed wreaths on the headstones of 230,000 veterans at Arlington.
This story has been modified to correct the number of volunteers who placed wreaths on Dec. 13.
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