WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA: HONORING THE FALLEN

WAA teaches respect of fallen veterans by placing wreaths

FEATURE | December 2024

Wreath Across America’s (WAA) website states they are an organization dedicated to “teaching all generations about the value of their freedoms, and the importance of honoring those who sacrificed so much to protect those freedoms” by placing wreaths on the tombstones of fallen veterans every year and showing younger generations on the sacrifices that the veterans made. On December 14 at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, families of fallen veterans with help supporters, including the Bismarck Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol (CAP), Conejo Valley Chapter of the NSDAR, Ferguson, Minishoshe-Mandan Chapter of the NSDAR, Alkermas, 74749 Stitching Hearts QOV group, and local North Dakota volunteers. 

WAA’s goal was to get 9,442 wreaths for the veterans through sponsors. To sponsor a wreath, go to the website. Each wreath costs $17 and must be delivered via check to the WAA’s website. Eli Fuchs, a cadet helping with the wreath sponsorships said that “there were a lot of wreaths that he had to verify and it was a little sad as some people placed notes they wanted on the wreaths in the checks.”

On December 14, the weather was bad with high winds and snowfall making the traffic and ice horrible for driving. The set-up included the different volunteer organizations putting the checks into the system for the wreaths and making sure the wreaths lined up with the money sent. The event started at 11:00 am but with limited parking, carpooling was advised for most participants. To battle the small parking spots, CAP cadets were placed to help direct traffic and hand out wreaths. The goal for Wreaths Across America was to sponsor 9,442 wreaths, which matched the amount of veterans buried at the cemetery, but the organization managed to make 12,196 wreaths, matching 2,754 wreaths over the goal. 

To help educate on the wreath ceremony, the WAA introduced the mobile educational exhibit, which is a semi-interactive museum that shares the WAA’s mission to remember the fallen. 

Volunteer Brendan Jorgenson said, “It's a good way to show younger generations the sacrifices that were made to protect our country.” He was surprised with the turnout of the people at the event and that this year was “a good year for the WAA.”