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Wreaths Across America

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10—The Sentinel

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

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Organization’s year round effort seeks to remember, honor, teach

Photos courtesy WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA Wreaths lay on veterans’ graves and a blanket of fresh snow at Arlington National Cemetery. What Wreaths Across America started here in 1992 has now grown to more than 2,500 cemeteries serving as the final resting place of more than 1.7 million U.S. military veterans.

By BRIAN COX

Remember. Honor. Teach.

They are three words. But to the thousands of passionate volunteers affiliated with Wreaths Across America, they are so much more.

To them, it’s the three pillars of the whole organization. And it’s a mission that never ends.

Started in 1992 by a wreathmaker in Maine named Morrill Worcester, Wreaths Across America now honors veterans in all 50 states and Puerto Rico each year by placing more than 1.7 million wreaths at more than 2,500 cemeteries, from the famous like Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, to thousands of small, local burial sites, like Mount Rock Cemetery in Lewistown.

The group is perhaps most famous for decorating the graves of deceased military veterans each December with a natural balsam wreath and handmade bow. But the organization works all year to not only plan this solemn remembrance of those who have served our nation, but to help local groups who support the military by allowing them to sell wreath sponsorships as a means of fundraising.

“We remember veterans by placing these wreaths but we honor them,” said Amber Caron, the director of communication for Wreaths Across America. “We work with other non-profits through a fundraising program. Our wreaths are $15 to sponsor a wreath and through our fundraising program, groups can use it as a fundraiser for their own program locally.”

She cited an example by which a local VFW sells a wreath sponsorship and of the $15 price, $5 is returned to the VFW.

“Through that program in the past 11, 12 years, Wreaths Across America has given

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back almost $15 million to other non-profit and civic groups in communities across the country,” Caron said.

It all ties in to the mission of Wreaths Across America — remember, honor, teach.

“Everything we do as an organization nationally and internationally really comes back to those three pillars,” Caron said.

In addition to the fundraising work, Wreaths Across America is active with events throughout the calendar that serve to further the group’s efforts.

In March on Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day, Wreaths Across America held an event at a POW museum that specializes in the Vietnam War, allowing the museum to tell the stories of veterans who, unlike those who return stateside today, were not welcomed home from the war.

“We actually went down to D.C. and we established a partnership with the Vietnam War Commemorative in which we are actually commemorative partners so we can welcome home Vietnam veterans, which we do and we do that often,” Caron said. “That was something we kicked off in March and was something that our local volunteers, as a part of the commemorative, can welcome home the Vietnam veteran and give them a commemorative pin, which is very meaningful for many of these Vietnam veterans who were not welcomed home when they came home.”

This past month saw a virtual road race designed to help raise money for wreath sponsorships.

In June, Caron said Wreaths Across America plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Daughters of the American Revolution to sponsor a grove of trees that will serve another purpose before eventually being used to make wreaths.

Caron said a veteran’s family can submit the veteran’s information and a replica dog tag will be produced. The family can then choose which tree to hang the dog tag from, where it will remain for three years before the tree is harvested for making wreaths that will eventually be placed on veterans’ graves.

“We have about 15,000 dog tags on these trees,” Caron

A man pauses to visit with a lost loved one after a wreath had been placed on his grave at Arlington National Cemetery.

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12—The Sentinel

said. “It really is a sight to see.”

The group has also taken up the task of waving the flag for one hour each Tuesday in September, a tradition started in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The program, known as Flags Across America, encourages people to wave the American flag each Tuesday in September from 9 until 10 a.m.

Caron also highlighted the organization’s mobile education exhibit, a traveling trailer designed to educate people about what veterans have endured.

“It has a movie theater inside, it has interactive displays, it goes to schools and veterans homes and private events and public events throughout the country and we have two ambassadors who travel with it and give tours,” Caron said, stressing its use as an education tool more than a means of raising money.

But despite all the work the organization does throughout the year, it is still most famous for the wreath laying.

Worcester found himself in 1992 with approximately 5,000 extra wreaths and was seeking a way to put them to good use. After contacting then-U.S. Rep. Olympia Snowe, Worcester obtained permission to transport the wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery outside of Washington D.C. to place them on veterans’ graves in the original portion of the sprawling memorial.

“Most of the people buried there don’t actively have family coming there to visit them,” Caron said. “So, that first year, he got a volunteer trucking company to haul all these wreaths down and he and about 10 others spent the entire day placing those wreaths. And it moved him so much and so many people who were there kept saying how wonderful it was and it just really resonated with him and his family. So, for the next 14 years, the Worcester family did that privately and quietly with no fanfare. They made those wreaths for Arlington and they went down every year and they placed them in different parts of the cemetery as a way of saying thank you to our nation’s military.”

The public became aware of what was going on after a USO photographer took a now-iconic shot of the wreaths laying on the graves having just been dusted with newly-fallen snow. The photo was published online with a poem and was shared widely and rapidly on social media.

“It turned into a kind of crazy, viral thing that no one with the Worcester family even knew about and they started receiving checks and requests from people from all over the country from people wanting to go and place wreaths at their local cemetaries and wanted him to come,” Caron said. “It kind of was a bit overwhelming and, obviously, as a private entity they couldn’t

Wreaths Across America has a mobile education exhibit that travels the country and seeks to educate people about they types of things veterans have endured during their service to the nation.

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accept that and they couldn’t do all that, so it struck and nerve and the idea of creating a non-profit to help grow this desire and mission to remember, honor, teach was formed in 2007.”

The act of placing the wreaths, while symbolic, not only serves to honor the deceased veterans, but it also provides comfort and closure to the families they have left behind, especially if the veteran was killed while serving.

“For a lot of Gold Star Families, Wreaths Across America has become a mission that gives them purpose, that helps them to carry on,” Caron said of those who have had a relative killed in combat. “We have a Gold Star Mother who’s on the board of directors and she says for her it’s knowing that no matter whether she’s here or not or whether her family’s here, at Wreaths Across America, somebody will always come to honor her son and that gives her peace knowing that there’s always someone who will come and honor his service.”

As the wreaths are placed, Wreaths Across America asks those participating to pause and say each veteran’s name out loud to ensure they are properly honored.

“The wreath is just the catalyst that brings communities together,” she said. “And when we place a wreath, we ask our volunteers — millions of people come together on Wreaths Across America day to place wreaths — we ask everyone that when they place a wreath to stop, take your time and say that person’s name out loud to keep their memory alive. We don’t want people to rush. These are not Christmas wreaths. These are handmade gifts to an American service man or woman.

“A lot of very active military and veteran groups that are part of Wreaths Across America partner with us feel very strongly how important this is to take that time to make sure that these men and women are remembered. It’s very healing for families.”

Caron said this organization is for everyone who has one goal in mind.

We are a non-political, non-religious organization,” she said. “We represent all people. Anyone can participate in this program. We’re very strict about that. Our volunteer base knows that. Veterans are something we can agree on most of the time and that serving our country is an important part of what makes us all Americans. We’re lucky in that respect.”

This year’s Wreaths Across America Day is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 18. Anyone who wishes to participate or volunteer to become an organizer for a local cemetery can visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org to find out how.

Morrill Worcester, a wreathmaker from Maine who founded Wreaths Across America, pauses to pay tribute to a deceased military veteran while placing a wreath on the veteran’s grave. What began in 1992 with around 5,000 wreaths has grown into a national organization placing more than 1.7 million wreaths at more than 2,500 cemeteries in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

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14—The Sentinel

‘WALL THAT HEALS’ AT JAMES E. VAN ZANDT VA MEDICAL CENTER

Photos courtesy JAMES E. VAN ZANDT VA MEDICAL CENTER A man kneels while placing an American flag near the name of a loved one listed on the replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona. The wall, originally intended to be a traveling memorial, has deteriorated somewhat and is now in need of replacement.

Replica of Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Altoona in need of replacement

By JULIANNE KILMER

The Wall That Heals will be undergoing some healing of its own.

The memorial wall, located at James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona, is a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. It was originally designed to travel throughout the United States and has been displayed at nearly 600 locations since 1996.

In 2000, the re-creation was dedicated as a permanent fixture in Altoona. Since then, the wall, which is made of stamped metal, has deteriorated in some ways.

“After 20 years, it has just outlived its lifespan,” said John Clay, public affairs officer for the medical cen-

Thank You to all military personnel for your service.

ter. “We need to raise some funds to replace it.”

Clay said the new wall will be either granite or a faux granite material – something more permanent for the community.

The names of more than 58,000 men and women who gave their lives or remain missing are inscribed on the wall. Clay said there are 58,202 names on the replica; 116 more names need to be added to make it current.

“It’s a unique location and it’s a special thing,” Clay said. “People show up and they really want to just be there for awhile to memorialize their loved ones.”

There is no admission cost and parking to visit the wall is free. It is manned by volunteers – many of whom are veterans – during daylight hours.

To donate toward the wall’s replacement, anyone may send a check in any amount to Voluntary Services at James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center, 2907 Pleasant Valley Blvd., Altoona, PA 16602. Include “The Wall That Heals” in the memo section to ensure funds will be earmarked for that project.

Names on the wall are shown close up.

COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICES

Courthouse offices seek to assist vets with getting services, benefits

By ERIN THOMPSON

As an advocate for those who have served in the military, Veterans Affairs offices work to ensure veterans obtain the services they are entitled to.

James Conway, director of Veteran Affairs of Mifflin County, said the office will help veterans obtain a myriad of services that range from health care coverage to offsetting the cost of grave markers.

Even as one of the counties in Pennsylvania with the highest number of registered veterans per capita — at about 3,500 — Conway’s goal is to encourage veterans to register with the VA to help them take advantage of services.

“I take this job very personal. I will work for veterans. I’m not afraid to go the extra mile,” he said. “In this office, we are all very passionate about it. We are all very caring. We all go above and beyond what we need to do to cater to the veterans because they deserve this and we should.”

To qualify for services, members of the VA must have served in the military. Qualifications are based on how the veteran was discharged, however, Conway said an “other than honorable” discharge and a dishonorable discharge don’t necessarily make them ineligible for services.

He also said the VA is able to assist in appealing a type of discharge, which could open the applicant up to more services.

Conway said VA offices are able to review services that might be available and as a veteran himself, he wants to ensure they are able to get the assistance they need.

“Don’t think that it’s a burden to come in here to the system. (By taking advantage of services), you’re not taking from another veteran, I promise you that. They may qualify for things they had no idea that they qualified for, so I tell them to come in and talk to me.”

Among other veteran benefits, Conway said the VA offers benefits such as Veterans Aid and Attendance for veterans an their spouses to offset the cost of nursing homes.

“It’s a great program. We’ve discovered that as veterans get older, the price goes up, but they are on fixed income and the cost gets astronomical. It alleviates some of the burden family members have to endure during that time.”

The VA also offers grants for veterans for to offset home repair, heating and car repairs up to $1,600.

“You might not qualify for something, but you might qualify for something you had no idea that you qualified for,” he said.

Since July of last year, Conway said the VA of Mifflin County has awarded more than $1 million to veterans.

The Veteran Affairs office of Mifflin County will host a Veterans Appreciation event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 28 at Rec Park to share more information about services the VA can offer.

“It’s a way of saying thank you and to get the word out,” said Conway.

Conway said the event will be catered and will be attended by the National Guard and the Pa. Military Museum.

Services in Mifflin County are available by calling (717) 2486421. The office is located in the Mifflin County Courthouse, 20 N. Wayne St., Lewistown. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Services in Juniata County are available by calling (717) 436-7728. The office is located at the Bousum Building, 26 North Main St., Mifflintown. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

Local county VA offices

Mifflin County 20 N. Wayne St. Lewistown, PA 17044 Phone: (717) 248-6421 Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday Juniata County 26 N. Main St. Mifflintown, PA 17059 Phone: (717) 436-7728 Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mon., Wed., Fri. and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday

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