Editor's Note: With Memorial Day fast approaching, our thoughts go to the families who made the ultimate sacrifice. You are the reason why we do what we do at Wreaths Across America.
We hope you will read the following stories as an example of how we follow the mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach each and every day, not just on Memorial Day... because not a single one should, nor will be forgotten.
Did You Know...
The Washington Post 5/25/2015 By Ian Shapira MARGRATEN, Netherlands - They haven't forgotten. For 70 years, the Dutch have come to a verdant U.S. cemetery outside this small village to care...
Additional photos showing the loving care and attention given to each soldier's final resting place at Margraten. The families adopt and visit each of the 9,000+ graves, not just once but throughout the year.
(All Photos shared courtesy of Courtney Strohman, an American and military spouse currently living in the Netherlands).
The Most Important Part Is To Teach
"Tell me, and I forget, teach me, and I may remember, involve me, and I learn"~ Benjamin Franklin. A mission objective of Wreaths Across America is to teach younger generations about the courage and personal sacrifice that sustain our liberties and freedom.
Memorial Day Challenge:
Wreaths Across America and its supporters challenge you to visit your hometown cemetery this Memorial Day weekend and consider starting a WAA ceremony for National Wreaths Across America.
Trucking Tributes:
As the song lyric says "I get by with a little help from my friends," and the friendship Wreaths Across America has with the nation's trucking industry is a phenomenal story of volunteerism powered by patriotism and pride and it is growing every year.
Last Chance To Order!
Memorial Day Thoughts:
"We believe that to truly honor our lost veterans, we must remember them as people – not as numbers or political fodder, and in a way more meaningful than sharing a post on Facebook. Real people gave their lives – for us – and this can be easy to forget. In fact, a poll in 2000 showed that only 28 percent of Americans knew what Memorial Day was for (other than being the unofficial start of summer). In response, Congress established the National Moment of Remembrance to be observed at 3 p.m. local time every Memorial Day as an act of national unity. Will you join me in taking one moment this Memorial Day to reflect on the sacrifices these brave men and women have made?
If you’d like to do more, nearly every community has a veterans’ cemetery nearby. Why not pay your respects in person? Some people bring flowers, or flags, or other mementos. But you don’t need to. One simple thing we do when we lay wreaths on graves on National Wreaths Across America Day each December is to say the name of the veteran out loud. It’s been said that a person dies twice: once when they take their final breath, and later, the last time their name is spoken. By saying their name aloud, we keep their memory alive.
We seem to be at a time in history when Americans are having a hard time agreeing on anything. We’re divided in so many ways. But at the heart of it, most of us can agree on one thing: We are Americans. This Memorial Day, let’s honor those who have given their lives for the country we all love, and who have made it possible for us to live freely and peacefully together – no matter our faith, our politics or our backgrounds."
As Memorial Day approaches, we wanted to share thoughts from executive director Karen Worcester about how important it is to remember what this holiday is really about: honoring those who have lost their lives while serving our country.
This Week in Social Media:
It might seem like an April Fool's joke: The Navy commissioned its newest destroyer on April 1 and named it after a man who deliberately crash-landed a perfectly good aircraft behind enemy lines.
He may have been 7,000 miles away during his wife's pregnancy but that didn't keep Navy corpsman Wesley Bedwell out of the maternity photos.
A charming man with salt and pepper hair shows off his Mukwonago VFW Post uniform. The crisp white shirt has ribbons from his time in service.
Andrew Lumish spends his free time cleaning veterans' tombstones. He uses an account, The Good Cemeterian, to share his work on social media.
Boots representing fallen service members will be on display at Hedrick Stadium this weekend in a poignant, temporary memorial.
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Join us on December 16th (the 3rd Saturday in December), 2017 for National Wreaths Across America Day. Use this map to find a location and sign up to volunteer. Can't find a location near you? You can start one (adding new locations for 2017)!
"Remember this.... In truth a person dies twice, once when he stops breathing, and a second time when somebody mentions his or her name for the last time. Join us in December when over one million volunteers nationwide, will say the names of a million fallen out loud, to make sure they will never be forgotten."
Thanks To This Weeks Sponsor:
You might have eaten at Mission BBQ location, and seen how the whole establishment comes to a halt at noon time each - for the playing of the National Anthem. Did you also know about Mission BBQ's effort so honor veterans at Arlington National Cemetery by sponsoring wreaths for Section 59, and support of many other participating locations near their base of operations. We think you will especially like this video about WAA, created for their Stories of Service - called "If these walls could talk" - thanks to the whole team at Mission BBQ for all your support!
