Wreaths Across America in Tioga and Northern Bradford and Susquehanna Counties

Christmas Wreaths honor veteransIn 2017, a moment of silence began the Wreaths Across Tioga County ceremony at the Tioga County Veterans Memorial to remember the fallen, the prisoners of war, the missing in action, and to honor those who have served and are serving. (File Photo / Wendy Post)

It is our vision that we will one day honor every veterans memory for the holidays, as a way to show our gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifices made to preserve our freedoms. — Karen and Morrill Worcester, founders of Wreaths Across America 

Wreaths Across America is a non-profit organization best known for its annual wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and more than 1,000 locations nationwide and overseas. The mission is to Remember, Honor, and Teach about the service and sacrifices of our veterans and to help our children understand the value of freedom. 

Service men and women sacrifice their time and safety every single day of the year to preserve our freedoms. 

With over 5,000 veterans buried in Tioga County cemeteries, local organizers are looking for an overwhelming response from individual families to go to a cemetery in Tioga and Northern Bradford and Susquehanna Counties and place a wreath on a veteran’s grave and at the main entrance to the cemetery.  

Gold Star Mothers and Families who have lost a son in the service of our country in any war will have a wreath at their son’s grave. Families of veterans are encouraged to place a wreath at their veteran’s grave. 

The local vision of 100 percent coverage for 2018 is an ambitious initiative and can be achieved. 

Here’s how. Each family participates. All veterans and auxiliary organization have active involvement. All churches and their youth groups participate. Active support comes from all community organizations, businesses, individuals and school children. 

Success depends on people buying or making a wreath for a veteran grave and taking it to the cemetery of their choice. Churches help by taking the initiative to adopt a cemetery and place a wreath at its main entrance. Pastors may briefly explain the Wreaths Across America program in services on Sunday, Dec. 2 and 9.   

Veteran organizations are encouraged to hold wreath laying services at their community’s veterans memorial. Nichols American Legion for Town of Nichols area. Waverly VFW and American Legion and Auxiliaries for the Village of Waverly and Town of Barton areas. Sayre VFW for Valley cemeteries. Candor American Legion for the Town of Candor area. Spencer Van Etten VFW and Ladies Auxiliary for the Town of Spencer area. Veterans from Newark Valley, Berkshire and Richford take the lead for their communities. And Owego area veterans asked to check cemeteries in the Town of Owego and Eastern Town of Tioga areas. 

Evergreen wreaths with red bows will be placed in front of the Tioga County Veterans Memorial by Owego Boy Scout Troop 60 honoring the 18 Fallen Heroes buried in overseas cemeteries. Price Chopper-Owego also donates the wreaths to be placed at the WWI, WWII, Tioga County service, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq / Afghanistan Memorials. These wreaths recognize the sacrifice our veterans and their families have made for our country. 

Desert Storm and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of Modern Warfare will actively participate. In the past they have made illuminated displays at Maple Grove and Nichols Cemetery. They’ll be asking Scouts in both communities to make additional wreaths. 

Here are reasons why it is most important. Most local cemeteries have veterans and fallen heroes from every war in U.S. History. This year’s goal is to place a remembrance wreath on every single veterans headstone.  

Every December since 1992, thousands of wreaths donated by the Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, are placed on all headstones of America’s honored dead at Arlington National Cemetery. 

Morrill Worcester initially brought 4,000 surplus wreaths from the holiday decoration company he owns to adorn gravesites at Arlington 26 years ago. As Mr. Worcester told an Air Force reporter in 2005: “It is a great honor to be able to come here and pay our respects.”  

In 2005, a captivating photo went viral, showing thousands of wreaths leaning against headstones, atop a light whisper of snow on the ground. That sparked the national Wreaths Across America effort.  

But as word spread, the mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach about the sacrifices made by our veterans has captured the hearts and minds of many communities across the country like Owego and Tioga and Northern Bradford and Susquehanna Counties.  

Wreaths Across America was formed in 2006 as a nonprofit organization in direct response to letters, requests and supporters about how they too could get involved and bring the Arlington Wreath Project experience to their local communities. 

Owego and Tioga County began the practice of honoring her fallen heroes who served and sacrificed for our freedoms and expanded the program to all veterans in December 2007.  

The December 2018 objective is a Christmas wreath on each veteran gravestone. A Gold Star Mother says, “You will never, ever forget the first wreath that you lay, it just touches your heart.” 

Who to Contact 

To report what you’re doing or to find out more about the importance of the Tioga and Northern Bradford and Susquehanna County Wreaths Across America Program, contact Glenn A. Warner Post 1371, Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Day Chairman Jim Raftis at jraftis2@stny.rr.com

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