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Wreaths Across America honors American heroes with wreath laying and year-round celebrations
“When you support us and sponsor a wreath, it’s so much more than placing a wreath on a headstone.”
On National Wreaths Across America Day, which occurs annually every December, hundreds of thousands across the United States honor the fallen by participating in wreath-laying ceremonies at cemeteries across all 50 states, at sea and abroad.
“People are really helping by contributing to our broader mission of educating about our history and honoring both our veterans and their families,” says Amber Caron, communications director at Wreaths Across America. “We have so many great stories to tell, and we are fortunate to have the platform of supporters to be the conduit to share them.”
While the flagship and largest-attended ceremony, in terms of volunteers, is held at Arlington National Cemetery, individual ceremonies are held at 3,700 additional locations. In 2022, over 2.7 million sponsored wreaths were placed on National Wreaths Across America Day.
To partake in the wreath-laying, families and individuals line up to lay down a sponsored wreath on the headstone of a veteran. Attendance ranges, but there is no denying that interest in taking part is fervent, fluctuating from 33,000 to 90,000 in recent years.
Enbridge employee volunteers lay wreaths on the headstones of veterans at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Seville, OH.
“It may sound strange, but there’s something to be said for waiting in line,” says Caron. “It’s a great opportunity to talk to people, and we see families come back each year seeking to re-connect with others they had met just by chatting in line the year prior.”
The December timing for the ceremonies is intentional, but Caron is clear that these are not Christmas wreaths—“they are veterans’ wreaths.”
“The holiday season in general is a time where a lot of military families are missing their loved ones and there’s an empty seat at the table—whether they’ll never come home, or are currently deployed,” says Caron. “No matter your background or beliefs, it can be a really difficult time of year for people.”
In 2022, Enbridge made a $5,000 Fueling Futures donation to Wreaths Across America as part of our commitment to building safe, vibrant and sustainable communities near our operations.
The funding was used to sponsor wreaths for National Wreaths Across America Day; Enbridge volunteers were onsite to participate in wreath placements on headstones at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery at Seville, OH.
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This year’s National Wreaths Across America Day falls on Saturday, Dec. 16. Supporters can join the cause by sponsoring a veterans’ wreath, volunteering at a cemetery or donating to a local sponsorship group.
Caron herself has had a long history with Wreaths Across America, starting with the organization just a year after they became established as a non-profit in 2007.
She can remember her first wreath placement experience vividly.
“In the midst of the busyness, our executive director told me to ‘go find a headstone, place this wreath and say their name,’ ” recalls Caron. “She emphasized the importance of experiencing and understanding the significance of what the day means—and she was right.”
“It’s difficult to explain until you do it yourself.”
