Story & photos
by James Brady
The recent nor’easter wasn’t going to stop Wreaths Across America from making its journey from Harrington, Maine, the home of the Worcester Wreath Co. to Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.
The WAA 13+ truck convoy, escorted by CT and Maine State Troopers, made a scheduled stop at the Mohegan Sun Casino. Mohegan Tribal Chairman Kevin Brown (US Army Colonel retired) along with Mohegan Tribal Chief Lynn Malerba lead the ceremony with inspiring words and native prayer. St. Bernard School Headmaster Don Macrino spoke of the tremendous honor as well. The St. Bernard School Choir and Band, lead by Music Director Caitlin Meyer, performed renditions of the National Anthem and God Bless America that were most fitting the WAA event.
At age 12, Morrill Worcester, the owner of Worcester Wreath Company, won a trip to Washington, DC. The experience was so profound, that several decades earlier, in 1992, he had a surplus of wreaths. Worcester arranged for them to be placed in Arlington National Cemetery. He requested that the wreaths be placed at grave stones in an older section of the cemetery where there are fewer visitors each year. Today they will place over 500,000 memorial wreaths in 545 locations across the US and beyond.
Every aspect of Wreaths Across America is inspiring to me as a citizen and a CT State Trooper: the assignment by Editor/Publisher of the Resident, Alexis Ann (US Army Captain retired); speaking with my friend Chairman Kevin Brown, retired Army Colonel; my conversations with Don Macrino. Headmaster St Bernard School, not a veteran himself, but whose dad and brother served, and whose grandfather served and is buried at Arlington not far from JFK; my own dear friend, Dan Sweeney, who died and was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery… This story, this subject and the unselfish act by a man who came to inspire a nation, turning a surplus of wreaths into an unstoppable movement of honor and dedication; of volunteers, some veterans, many not, working for one common noble experience… Well folks, though not a military veteran myself, as a retired Trooper, bearing witness to greatness, never ever gets old…it is what will always make us the best!
Remember, Honor, and Teach… Remembering our fallen heroes, honoring those who serve, and teaching our children about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families.