Wreaths Across American Day

MIDDLETOWN — Dec. 15 is Wreaths Across America Day. It began as The Arlington Wreath project started by Morrill Worcester in 1992 with the donation and laying of 5,000 Christmas wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. It was relatively obscure until 2005 when a photo of the stones adorned with wreaths and covered in snow circulated around the internet. The project received national attention. In 2006 over 150 State & National cemeteries held wreath laying ceremonies simultaneously. By 2008 over 300 locations held ceremonies in every state, Puerto Rico and 24 overseas cemeteries. More than 100,000 wreaths were placed on veterans’ graves, and more than 60,000 volunteers participated.

Now the opportunity to adorn every hero’s grave at the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown has been made available to the community through the efforts of the Doolittle Funeral Home in Middletown & Cromwell Funeral Home in conjunction with the nearly 1,000 veterans and Family Memorial Care Funeral Home Providers nationwide.

The wreath laying is now held each year on the third Saturday of December and was unanimously voted by the US Congress as “Wreaths Across America™ Day”. By offering sponsorships to the public, Wreaths Across America hopes that one day every veteran’s resting place will be adorned with a wreath for the holiday season.

Residents may honor a hero buried in the State Veterans’ Cemetery in Middletown by sponsoring a $15 Wreath or for every two wreaths purchased, three wreaths will be provided to adorn their graves. Now through Dec. 3, stop in and order a wreath at Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church Street, Middletown. For information call 860-346-6464.