Wreaths Across America

America is not an accident. Our freedoms are not happenstance. Every freedom we enjoy goes back to our veterans, some called home early because they cared enough to die for us. For them, we must remember, honor, and teach what they did.

That is the mission of an incredible, nationally-recognized, Maine-based organization called “Wreaths Across America” – remembering our fallen veterans, honoring their sacrifice, and teaching what that gift means for all of us.

Each year since 1992, this amazing group – the inspiration of Maine natives Morrill and Karen Worster – has delivered thousands of wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. Thousands of volunteers join them to place these wreaths on veterans’ graves.

Morrill has made the wreaths, has since childhood. In 1992, he had 5000 extras, so he worked with Maine Senator Olympia Snowe to have them placed at Arlington. By 2012, more than a million Christmas wreaths had been placed at Arlington graves.

That year, with relatives buried in Arlington, my children joined me in placing wreaths on these graves. It was a powerful, unforgettable event. If memory serves, there was one truck, too few wreaths for the vast collection of patriots buried there.

But wind the clock ahead to now. This year, Morrill’s team of Christmas elves – there in northern Maine, not far from the North Pole – managed to make three million sponsored veterans’ wreaths, soon to be placed at 4,900 sites nationally.

Last Sunday, a miles-long convoy – composed of veterans, police officers, first responders, and Gold Star families – escorted 68 tractor-trailer trucks with more than 250,000 wreaths to Arlington. Tens of thousands of volunteers will meet those trucks this weekend, placing wreaths at the Pentagon’s 9/11 Memorial, WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam Memorials, and on every grave at Arlington.

The enterprise is stunning in scope, extraordinary for its growth and inspiration, the longest veterans’ memorial parade in the world, humbling to observe.

By good fortune, veteran friends and I were part of the convoy this year, able to see firsthand the enormity of this undertaking, the patriotic, heartfelt commitment of this Christmas mission, an act of remembering, honoring, and teaching.

As the convoy unfolded – a long ribbon crossing Maine’s wintry terrain – roads and overpasses were lined for miles with flag-wavers. Giant trucks, veterans, police officers, and Gold Star families were invited into schools along the way.

This was a second surprise, an unexpected source of hope, joy, and appreciation. Here were hundreds of kids singing patriotic songs, orchestral accompaniments, school principals willing to profess love of country, halls lined with responsible, self-disciplined, uniformed junior ROTC members, proud young Americans.

Long before the convoy reaches Arlington this weekend, the love of those who gave their all for us is flowing, hope radiating from patriotic kids and roadside recognition for fallen veterans – those who will be honored, and their families.

Color Guards, adults, and teens, greeted the convoy at every stop, speeches reminding us that freedom is not free – and also requires teaching. Presentations to and by Gold Star families, to and by law enforcement, kept faith with our veterans.

The convoy in motion is like Christmas, July 4^th, Memorial and Veterans Day rolled into one, and then some. This week, they will roll toward Arlington.

Having visited them in northern Maine, near the North Pole, to make wreaths, I will at week’s end be at Arlington myself, where, by the kindness of “Wreaths Across America,” my turn will come to place those wreaths beside memorials for friends lost on 9/11 and beside my grandfather’s and father’s Arlington stones.

Travelling across Maine with “Wreaths Across America” was heartening and sobering, filled with Christmas joy and appreciation all over again for those who traded their precious life for mine, and for our nation’s enduring freedom.

When you wonder if one man, group, idea, or collection of good hearts can catch fire, change things, deepen personal appreciation for America – cause us to  remember, honor, and teach it all to the next generation – look no further than a wreath and think about “Wreaths Across America.” We are not an accident.

Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, Maine attorney, ten-year naval intelligence officer (USNR), and 25-year businessman. He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (North Country Press, 2018), and “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024). He is the National Spokesman for AMAC. Today, he is running to be Maine’s next Governor (please visit BobbyforMaine.com to learn more)!