This is our inaugural edition of the Wreaths Across America Newsletter. We hope you will find the following snippets of News and Events interesting, and useful as you follow the progress towards this year's campaign to honor Veterans at locations around the Country.

The holidays are fast approaching and preparations are in full swing for both the wreaths headed to Arlington National Cemetery and those designated for sites participating in the new Wreaths Across America campaign. Each day we are adding new information to our site, so please visit stay abreast of the newest information regarding this year's events.

http://www.wreaths-across-america.org.html

Thursday, December 14th, 2006

Come to Arlington National Cemetery, or any of the other sites around the Country to take part in the 2006 Wreaths Across America ceremony. Remember to check the website for location information at your chosen site.

See our growing list of locations

We hope you will be able to join us at one of the many participating locations, or at Arlington National Cemetery directly - but not everyone will be able to do so. So what can you do to be involved?

Thursday, December 14th, 2006 12:00 Noon (sharp) - Moment of Silence

Help us spread the word! Please tell you friends and colleagues, civic groups, churches, and the media to take a moment and say thank you - to those who serve; to those we've lost; and to the families who will be missing loved ones these holidays, in service to their Country.

This event will take place simultaneously across the Country, so please take an active role and encourage participation in your community.

It is a small gesture when you think of all that has been given for us to enjoy the freedoms we share today. But you can play a big role. Print the following invitation and post it on your bulletin board. Let people know, and let no one forget!

Please share this invitation

What's the holiday? Didn't we just recognize Veterans Day in November? We receive these question a lot.

The holidays mark an important time for Veterans and the families of service people. While they may not be able to be home for the holidays, we feel the wreaths bring a touch of holiday spirit - and a way for us to say thank you amid all our blessings in the beautiful season.

The Arlington Wreath Project was started in 1992 with 5000 wreaths laid on the graves of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. 2006 will mark the 15th anniversary and Worcester Wreath is committed to continuing this tradition, as well as expanding its scope with the Wreaths Across America campaign. Read more about the story, and how it all started at:

Read how it all started

Worcester Wreath and Wreaths Across America would like to thank United Parcel Service (UPS) and their contribution to ship the 6 wreaths to each participating location around the Country. For 15 years now and counting BlueBird Ranch Trucking of Jonesboro Maine has also donated transportation of the wreaths for to Arlington National Cemetery. Continued thanks as well to the folks at BlueBird.

With the new national campaign, UPS will come on board with help in getting the wreaths and ceremony package to destinations all across the Country.

Each Worcester Wreath receives letters and emails thanking us for our initiation of the Arlington Wreath Program. This is both humbling and was a great motivation to do more.

Much of the correspondence is deeply touching, with personal stories about those who serve, those we've lost and impact on their families.

We hope soon to incorporate a designated space on the website to share these amazing stories and mementos. Until then, Let me share one story with you:

If you've watched the video on our homepage, you might have wondered about the last image of the slideshow, of the little girl and her father looking adoringly into each others eyes. This photo of Kelsey and Lance was shared with us by her grandmother Kathie Briggs.

Lance was called to service in Iraq, but this story has a tragic twist. You can read more from the link below. It is a heart-wrenching tale, and you will never be able to look at that one photo the same way again.

Thank you for sharing Kathie and God bless you and your family.

Read Kelsey's Story

But the Arlington Project always marks a special time of year and we are very excited about growing the new national campaign. We hope you will be able to join us on December 14th.

The website is new (less than a month old now) but we are adding to it daily. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.