WASHINGTON — Right before Christmas, beautiful wreaths with red bows can be seen all across Arlington National Cemetery. It is impressive to see the graves graced with wreaths, a way to honor the fallen and to show that they have not been forgotten.
The government does not supply the wreaths. The nonprofit Wreaths Across America raises funds and coordinates with the volunteers to place the wreaths at the headstones.
But this year donations are falling short, which means some of the grave sites may wind up bare.
The nonprofit has extended the donation deadline until Dec. 14. Volunteers will place the wreathes at the Arlington grave sites on Dec. 17.
This is the 25th year for the wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery. It all started in 1992, when Morrill Worcester, a Maine wreath maker, took 5,000 wreaths to Arlington. Now that single act has become a national mission. Wreaths will be laid at more than 1,200 other locations across the U.S. on Dec. 17.
It costs $15 to sponsor a wreath. Details are available online, www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
