Chenega MIOS and NJVC are participating in Northern Virginia Veterans Association’s Wreaths Across America (WAA). MIOS is sponsoring wreaths to be laid at veteran’s graves at Quantico National Cemetery. On December 17, a group of Chenega MIOS employees and some of their family members will travel to Quantico National Cemetery to help lay wreaths.
This annual tradition takes place every year across the country to remember and honor the fallen and those who served our country.
It started in 1992, when Worcester Wreath found themselves with a surplus of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. Morrill Worcester, the owner of Worcester Wreath Company, realized he had an opportunity to honor our country’s veterans. Arrangements were made for the wreaths to be placed at Arlington in one of the older sections of the cemetery that had been receiving fewer visitors with each passing year.
As plans were underway, a number of other individuals and organizations stepped up to help. The annual tribute went on quietly for several years, until 2005, when a photo of the stones at Arlington, adorned with wreaths and covered in snow, circulated the internet. Suddenly, the project received national attention. 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.
In 2006, with the help of the Civil Air Patrol and other civic organizations, simultaneous wreath-laying ceremonies were held at over 150 locations around the country.
In 2007, the Worcester family, veterans, and other groups and individuals who had helped with their annual veterans’ wreath ceremony in Arlington formed WAA to continue and expand this effort to support other groups around the country who wanted to do the same. The group’s mission is simple: remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach our children the value of freedom.
The wreath-laying is still held annually, on the second or third Saturday of December. You can learn more about Wreaths Across America here.
If you are interested in volunteering or donating to the Northern Virginia Veterans Association for WAA you can learn more here.
About Northern Virginia Veterans Association
Northern Virginia Veterans Association is a local veteran nonprofit that performs a comprehensive veteran intake, determines priority of needs, case manages, coordinates with multiple potential service providers, advocates, and provides continual follow up to ensure services are received and continued as needed for local veterans.
NJVC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Chenega Corporation and is part of the Chenega MIOS Strategic Business Unit.