Wreath maker Morrill Worcester found himself with a surplus of 5,000 wreaths during the holiday season in 1992, in Harrington, Maine, and seized the opportunity to pay tribute to our country’s veterans, according to the Wreaths Across America website.
With the help of then Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, Worcester arranged for the wreaths to be placed at Arlington National Cemetery. This annual tribute has continued every year since, touching the lives of millions of veterans’ families and volunteers.
Boy Scout Troop 117 of Zephyrhills is collecting sponsorships through Nov. 19, for the wreath program.
There will be a local ceremony, open to the public, on Dec. 18 at 10:30 a.m., followed by the placing of wreaths at Florida National Cemetery, in Bushnell, where 180,000 local veterans are laid to rest.
To sponsor a wreath, you can do one of the following:
- Order online at WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/FL0498P. (If requesting a specific grave, service member information must be supplied.)
- Mail a money order or check made out to Wreaths Across America, WAA c/o Meagan Sammons, P.O. Box 3103, Zephyrhills, FL 33539.
To specify service member information for a specific grave, or to request a pickup, please call Meagan Sammons, scout master Troop 117, at 813-838-3822.
For more about the program started by Worcester, visit WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.
Published October 27, 2021
