Christmas Wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery
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Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.
Know the line has held, your job is done.
Rest easy, sleep well.
Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.
Peace, peace, and farewell...
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The Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine began the custom of laying Christmas wreaths in 1992, when 4,000 wreaths were laid at Arlington National Cemetery. Arlington was once Civil War Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s beloved home. It was taken from him by the Union after he joined the Confederates and it was turned into a mostly Union cemetery during the Civil War to prevent him from ever getting it back.
Since that first year of 1992, wreath laying has become an annual custom. More recently the news has become an email phenomenon. The original 4,000 wreaths laid at Arlington Cemetery has grown to over 100,000 at over 300 locations in every state, Puerto Rico and 24 overseas cemeteries as of last year, when over 60,000 volunteers participated.
Mahalos to Howard Saiki for alerting HPI to Arlington's Christmas wreaths.
Links:
Volunteers lay wreaths at Arlington in holiday tribute to fallen veterans [CNN]
Christmas wreaths at veteran cemeteries [Wreaths across America]
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