topic Re: Wreaths Across America, in Community Chat

Wreaths Across America

MaggieMack — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 19:01:00 GMT

I just finished watching a news piece on this 501(c)3 organization that places wreaths on all the graves of servicemen and women at Arlington National Cemetary, as well as other national cemeteries around the country. They said they were about 30,000 short yet this year for the Arlington location, I think the total graves they decorate there is 200,000 plus. It costs $15 for one wreath, and goes up in multiples from there. I was moved to participate in this worthy cause. They gave everything for our freedom.

WreathsAcrossAmerica dot org

Re: Wreaths Across America

Puzzle Piece — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 19:09:30 GMT

I think I viewed the same news segment. We will participate.

Re: Wreaths Across America

Mj12 — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 19:10:11 GMT

This is a wonderful organization. And if anyone is local, you can volunteer to help with wreath laying Dec 12 and/or wreath clean-up January 23.

Thank you for posting, @MaggieMack!!!

Re: Wreaths Across America

ladyroxanne — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 19:11:41 GMT

@MaggieMack

what a nice gesture maggie. i'll tell my husband about it. (he writes the checks) lol

Re: Wreaths Across America

IamMrsG — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 20:40:53 GMT

Thank you, @MaggieMack, for sharing this. I, in turn, shared it with my DH, and it will be the Gs' honor to participate. It's one small way of saying, "Thank you."

Re: Wreaths Across America

AliJoi5 — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 20:43:22 GMT

Thank you for sharing this Maggie! I would love to participate.

Re: Wreaths Across America

Lila Belle — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 01:59:21 GMT

@Mj12 wrote:
This is a wonderful organization. And if anyone is local, you can volunteer to help with wreath laying Dec 12 and/or wreath clean-up January 23.

Thank you for posting, @MaggieMack!!!

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Hello, MJ12 ! Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you are doing well !

We are fairly local and have done this for the last 3 years. It is such a blessing for the families and their friends. It means so much for just a little amount of time and money.

If you are close to a national cemetary or not please consider participating.

Re: Wreaths Across America

brii — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 02:12:16 GMT

That is beautiful.

I would love to participate.

Re: Wreaths Across America

MacDUFF — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 03:13:24 GMT

A beautiful thing to do! We have so much to be thankful for because of the selflessness of some. I'm thankful for the freedom they have secured for me.

And may I take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving...hope you have much to be thankful for, Maggie.

Re: Wreaths Across America

151949 — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 04:15:38 GMT

4 years ago my DH's cousin died over the holidays and was buried locally - not a military cemetary.It was the holidays and the family really wanted him to have a wreath but could not find a nice one.DH read about Wreaths across America and sent an e mail - telling them the deceased was a WW11 vet and had both a bronze and a silver star. They not only gave him a wreath but had a presentation ceremony and an article about him in the local paper. Wonderful organization!

Re: Wreaths Across America

151949 — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 04:16:50 GMT

I don't know about participating but you can certainly donate to help buy the wreaths.

Re: Wreaths Across America

madzonie — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 05:15:58 GMT

The Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista AZ/Ft. Huachuca Army Post gets these every year...they look beautiful.

Re: Wreaths Across America

chrystaltree — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 10:57:02 GMT

The wreaths are decoration and while I understand the sentiment, I think I want my holiday donation to do something, for the living. $15 buys a lot of canned goods for food pantries. Animal shelters always need pet food too.

Re: Wreaths Across America

Mj12 — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 14:07:42 GMT

You can volunteer in your area too - over 800 locations across the country. : ) check out their website for info.

Re: Wreaths Across America

goldensrbest — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 14:13:05 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:
The wreaths are decoration and while I understand the sentiment, I think I want my holiday donation to do something, for the living. $15 buys a lot of canned goods for food pantries. Animal shelters always need pet food too.

I agree with you.

Re: Wreaths Across America

151949 — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 14:13:10 GMT

It does something very special for the families who have lost their young men and women in these terrible wars. It is NOT just decoration!!! It says that we the people of the USA appreciate the sacrifice and are grateful for it. If it is your loved one -- it makes a huge difference.

Re: Wreaths Across America

MaggieMack — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 15:18:26 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:
The wreaths are decoration and while I understand the sentiment, I think I want my holiday donation to do something, for the living. $15 buys a lot of canned goods for food pantries. Animal shelters always need pet food too.

I agree that there are many people and pets that can use our donations. I chose to give to the Wreaths in addition to my other charitable donations, it was one I hadn't planned for but it spoke to my heart. We can do both!

Re: Wreaths Across America

aproudmom — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 14:13:15 GMT

@151949 wrote:
It does something very special for the families who have lost their young men and women in these terrible wars. It is NOT just decoration!!! It says that we the people of the USA appreciate the sacrifice and are grateful for it. If it is your loved one -- it makes a huge difference.

Thank You. My husband and I will be at Arlington that day along with about 30,000 others. Our son is buried there. These are not decorations! Find out what cemetery in your area is participating. All Wreaths Across America events are on December 12th. Also, you can buy one wreath for yourself and donate one the way they sell them. They are still a little short I think for covering all of Arlington.

Re: Wreaths Across America

Lila Belle — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 14:30:19 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:
The wreaths are decoration and while I understand the sentiment, I think I want my holiday donation to do something, for the living. $15 buys a lot of canned goods for food pantries. Animal shelters always need pet food too.

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WADR, posting about food banks and pet shelters on a thread about honoring our fallen for their ultimate sacrifice is pretty low. JMO

By all means spend your money where it matters to you.

Gold Star families are not always able to visit the cemetaries to place their own wreathes and for veterans from wars/conflicts in the past there are no descendents to do this.

If we say we are thankful for our veterans we should show it. Placing a $15 wreathe on each grave is a small price to pay for the debt we owe our fallen. Surely thier lives are worth that.

Re: Wreaths Across America

aproudmom — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 12:32:51 GMT

Thank you Lila Belle. This will sound bad, but as a Gold Star Mother, I can't image comparing honoring our fallen to buying a can of dog food. Looking at all the wreaths at the cemetaries is doing something for the living. It shows people like me that others do care. It definetly helps the living, more than you can imagine.