By Theron Larkins
Special to the Aroostook Republican
CARIBOU, Maine — It was a blistering cold day in Caribou on Saturday when the VFW Post 9389 gathered for its annual Wreaths Across America wreath-laying ceremony. The dedication was held at noon on Saturday at the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery, in remembrance of close to 600 veterans who are buried there.
It’s the time of the year when many families begin remembering what they are thankful for. For the families and loved ones of veterans this is not only a time to be thankful, but to remember all those who have and continue to sacrifice their safety for our freedom. For the last 22 years veterans and family members of soldiers all across the country have been gathering for the Wreaths Across America Ceremony. Veterans and those who support military service members throughout the nation gathered at noon on Saturday to remember those currently serving, as well as those who have lost their lives in service to their country.
“We are gathered here today at this memorial site and memorial sites all across America to remember that we are one nation with one flag. We are all proud to be Americans that live in a free society made up of many people, many races, from many walks of life. The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price. Laying here before us and in cemeteries throughout this nation are men and women who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom and without fear,” said Veterans of Foreign Wars, State Adjutant Andre L. Dumas of Caribou.
Despite the day’s bitter cold, veterans from all branches of the military came out to honor those who have served. “Each veteran took time from their schedule to lay a wreath from their respective branch, or in remembrance of a close friend who passed away” said Dumas. “The respect that each member paid to those who are deceased is important. We must never forget.”
The ceremony consisted of seven wreaths being laid out in honor of the various military branches. The Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines and those soldiers who are either prisoners of war or missing in action were all remembered with wreaths during Saturday’s ceremony.
In addition to Dumas, present at this year’s ceremony were Roy E. Woods, Alan E. Whittemore, Kevin E. St. Pierre, Peter F. Miesburger, Phillip Bosse, Linwood L. Lord, Joel E. Theriault, Conrad Guerrette and Shirley M. Dumas.
Thanks to the dedication and good will of these veterans and volunteers and the thousands more across the country there will be over 300,000 wreaths laid with reverence on the tombstones of veterans in all 50 states.
“It is a time whereby we remember those who have served and who have passed away and are buried in cemeteries,” said Dumas. “It’s also a time for Gold Star Mothers to remember their loved ones. We must never forget those who have served their country and need to instill this in our younger generations for future years to come.”
Last December the United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution, authored and introduced by Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan M. Collins, designating Dec. 15 as Wreaths Across America Day.
State Office Representative for Sen. Collins, Phil Bosse, said, “Wreaths Across America was started by a family that makes wreaths in Washington County and it started as a small effort and now there’s over 300,000 wreaths that are put up in veterans cemeteries all over the country.”
The idea for the wreath laying was started by Morrill and Karen Worcester in Columbia Falls, Maine over 20 years ago. Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, was a 12-year-old paper boy for the Bangor Daily News when he won a trip to Washington D.C and Arlington National Cemetery, which made an indelible impression on him. This experience followed him throughout his life and successful career in business, reminding him that his good fortune was due, in large part, to the values of this nation and the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
In 1992, Worcester Wreath found themselves with a surplus of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. Remembering his boyhood experience at Arlington, Worcester realized he had an opportunity to honor his country’s veterans. With the help of Sen. Snowe, arrangements were made for the wreaths to be placed at Arlington in one of the older sections of the cemetery, a section which had been receiving fewer visitors with each passing year.
The annual tradition quietly continued for years, until 2005 when a photo of the stones at Arlington, adorned with wreaths and covered in snow, circulated around the internet. The story became national news and thousands of requests poured in from all over the country from people wanting to help with Arlington, to emulate the Arlington project at their National and State cemeteries, or to simply share their stories and thank Morrill Worcester for honoring our nation’s heroes.
Over two decades later the ceremony is now being conducted in over 800 cemeteries across the United States and overseas, where both the ceremonial wreath laying and the presentation of wreaths for specific graves occurred during the worldwide ceremonies.
It is the wish of Worcester Wreath Company to raise enough money next year to have a wreath placed on every grave at Arlington National Cemetery.
