FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Everyone plays a part.”
National Nonprofit Wreaths Across America Announces 2019 Theme
COLUMBIA FALLS, Maine and Clarksburg, West Virginia — November 10, 2019 —
Each year on National Wreaths Across America Day, millions of Americans – a third of whom are children – come together to REMEMBER the fallen, HONOR those that serve and their families and TEACH the next generation about the value of freedom.
Locally, The Historic Clarksburg WV Cemetery Preservation Alliance <HCWVCPA> holds a ceremony at the Former I. O. O. F. Cemetery on South Chestnut Street in Clarksburg, WV.
Last year we had roughly 30 individuals come out and lend a hand with the placement of over 160 wreaths!!
Each year, a new theme is chosen by the national organization to help local volunteers and supporters focus their messaging and outreach in our communities.
This year, the theme is “Everyone plays a part.”
Inspiration for the this year’s theme………
The inspiration for this year’s theme was a recommendation made by ten-year-old “Mighty” Miles Worcester, the grandson of the founders of Wreaths Across America, Morrill and Karen Worcester. Last May, while in Washington D.C. for an event, Miles saw a U.S. Service member in uniform at the hotel where he was staying. As he always does, Miles walked up to the gentleman, reached out to shake his hand and thanked him for his service. And his response was simple and impactful: “Thank you…everyone plays a part.” Miles went directly to his grandmother, WAA Executive Director Karen Worcester, to tell her that he believed this statement would be the perfect theme because, as he said, “those serving in the military are doing their part, but it is our part as Americans to remember and honor them, and that’s what Wreaths Across America does.”
The millions of volunteers and supporters – from schoolchildren and educators, professional truck drivers, first responder, veterans, Gold Star and Blue Star families, to corporations and other nonprofits – devote so much of themselves to the mission to Remember, Honor, Teach, in their own communities. Each of them, playing a part in helping to plan and participate in local events and fundraising activities, sponsor and transport wreaths, and raise awareness.
Wreaths Across America Ceremonies
The Historic Clarksburg WV Cemetery Preservation Alliance will be conducting two ceremonies in December. The first is the State House Ceremony. Wreaths Across America’s State House Ceremonies serve as a kickoff to a week-long series of events designed to raise awareness and appreciation for the sacrifices of our nation’s veterans and their families. The ceremonies take place in most of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., and have a particular focus on family during the holidays.
Our State House ceremony will be held at the Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the Capitol Complex in Charleston on Monday, December 9th at NOON Sharp.
There will be special guests speaking in honor of our veterans and active military.
Saturday, December 14th is National Wreaths Across America Day.
HCWVCPA will be placing wreaths at the following four area cemeteries:
- The Daniel Davisson DAR Cemetery on West Main Street, Clarksburg
- The Jackson Cemetery on Linden Ave, Clarksburg
- Fraternal Memorial Park on Church Street, Anmoore
- The Former I. O. O. F. Cemetery (immediately following the ceremony)
The wreath-laying ceremonies are nonpolitical.
When asked how he feels to know so many people across the country come together each December to Remember, Honor and Teach, Miles said without hesitation, “It makes me feel proud to be an American.”
In 2018, nearly 1.8 million veteran wreaths were placed on headstones at 1,640 participating cemeteries around the country in honor of the service and sacrifices made for our freedoms, with each name said out loud.
This year, National Wreaths Across America Day is Saturday, December 14, 2019. We will be doing our part at The Former I. O. O. F. Cemetery on South Chestnut Street in Clarksburg at NOON Sharp, to sponsor a wreath for our event please visit our sponsorship page.
List of Veteran’s graves we lay wreaths on
As always this event is free and open to all people.
For more information on how to volunteer locally or sponsor a wreath for a hero, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
About Wreaths Across America
Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at hundreds of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.
Press contact:
Shaun Jedju
304 641 0072
ShaunMJedju@hcwvcpa.org
