|
 |
 |
HONORING THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN |
|
| |
 |
| |
T-minus two months and counting
to the 2009 Wreaths Across America events! |
| All across the Nation, Location Leaders and
fundraising groups are hard at work to bring the most amazing and memorable
wreath-laying experiences to their communities. |
| This month we share the latest updates and a call
to action as we gear up for December. Join us on Saturday, December 12th for
wreath-laying events at any of our over 400 participating locations. |
Wreaths Across America Radio
This month we introduced a new resource for your Location Leaders and
fundraising groups. Check out Wreaths Across America Radio (click to listen)! |
| In this kick-off edition, we interview Karen
Worcester - WAA Executive Director for an update of the latest news and events.
As an added bonus, we interview Scott DeMasi of Wreaths Across America Houston -
about some of the unique approaches to sponsorship ideas that has made the
Houston the single biggest location of the 2008 events (yes, even bigger than
Arlington). |
Escort To Arlington
I know many folks are eagerly anticipating the final schedule of stops as the
escort makes it way from Maine to Virginia. We will be publishing the final
schedule soon. |
| But first I want to share a heartfelt note from
John and Bunny O'Leary - Coordinators of The Wreaths Across America Escort to
Arlington: |
| What the Escort to Arlington means to me. |
| I was asked by the Maine State PGR Ride Captain if
I would consider being the Ride Captain for this event in Maine. I accepted not
knowing what to except or what the journey would be like. The first year the PGR
helped we left on Sunday and laid the wreaths on Thursday. There was one truck
with 5,000 wreaths. |
In the weeks leading up to the escort in 2006 my
wife and I read hundreds of postings on the PGR website. PGR members were making
plans up and down the east coast. The basic plan was for each state to escort
the Wreaths through their state and hand them off to the next state. The
combined effort of Maine’s law enforcement community made the escort in Maine a
huge success.
I won’t say this is an easy job by any means but it is one of the most
fulfilling jobs anyone could ever ask for. The escort has grown tremendously in
the last four years. In 2008 the Wreath Escort went National by having the
second Saturday in December declared National Wreaths Across America Day by a
unanimous vote by Congress. The first year the PGR escorted the wreaths there
were 5 or 6 hundred people in Arlington to help lay the wreaths, in 2007 there
were about 2000, in 2008 there were over 5000. |
 |
| Planning the Wreath Escort has brought my wife and
I closer than I ever thought possible. The emotions that we share as we travel
south from Harrington, Me to Arlington cannot be explained. Whether its on a
dark road in Maine where we are two hours late but there is a single person on
the side of the road with a lantern and a flag saluting us as we go by to a
whole elementary school in Penn outside holding flags and yelling USA, USA. The
chills never stop from the time we leave until we are home reading all the
wonderful emails from so many people thanking us for what we do. |
| We would like to thank all the families of all who
gave the ultimate sacrifice, its why we do this - to honor them. We would also
like to thank the Veterans and their families, and all the volunteers who year
after year make the Escort to Arlington our Christmas present. |
50 Trucks to 50 States -
You Can Help
5,000 wreaths per truckload. 50 Truckloads for 50 states! You do the math! |
Yes, that's our goal. And it looks like it is a
real possibility for 2009. But we need your help. It is a big job and we need to
sponsorships to come earlier this fall - so we can do the preparation it takes
to gear up for wreaths departing to all parts of the Country.
You can follow the progress at Wreaths Across America or share the sponsorship
page with friends who would like to see the wreaths placed in your community.
What If You Want Wreaths For Your Door? |
 |
In response to a recent eNewsletter, we received
the following question:
"Will you be offering wreaths shipped to home addresses again this year? I have
purchased them the past two years and they far outlast anything purchased
locally. Thanks so much."
For folks interested in purchasing wreaths for their door, or other holiday
balsam products - you can order via our friends at WorcesterWreath.com |
Wreaths Across America used to also ship personal use wreaths - but last year
made a decision to focus our efforts solely on the core mission. Worcester
Wreath Company continues to be after 17 years, the single largest donor of
Wreaths Across America.
With a purchase of The Patriot Pair - you can receive one remembrance wreath
shipped to your door, and second wreath donated to the participating location of
your choice.Help With Statehouse Ceremonies Needed |
 |
| And one last note. Each Monday the week before the
wreath-laying events (Monday, December 7th, 2009) Wreaths Across America events
are coordinated at participating Statehouses. This year will be a special event,
as the ceremony will coincide with many Pearl Harbor Day ceremonies of
remembrance. |
But we need your help. We are still looking for
Leaders to coordinate ceremonies at the following Statehouse locations:
Alaska
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Connecticut
Hawaii
Iowa
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
If you would like to be involved, or can help us make connections in any of the
locations to coordinate the Statehouse wreath-laying ceremony - please Contact
Us (click) or call 207-483-2039.
***
We appreciate all your help. In our next edition we will be sharing more about
the escort to Arlington, talk about Veterans' Day events, and WAA news from
around the Nation.
Regards,
Tobin
Media and Communications
www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org |
|
|
|
Designed and Managed by www.duncanwebsiteservices.com |
