Wreaths Across America

Click on the emblem to go to the Wreaths Across America website.

To visit Wreaths Across America's Facebook page, click here.

Wreaths Across America Ceremony

December 17, 2022

11 AM

Blue Grass Cemetery, Blue Grass, Iowa

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2022 will be the first year a Wreaths Across America

will be held in the Blue Grass Cemetery!!

In 1992, Worcester Wreath Company had approximately 5,000 excess to needs wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. Company owner, Morrill Worcester, remembered a trip he'd won as a 12 year old paperboy to the Nation's Capitol. It was a trip he would never forget and Arlington National Cemetery made an indelible impression. In later life, he recognized that his success as a businessman was in large part, due to the values of the Nation and the Veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. With the help of Maine Senator Olympia Snow, arrangements were made to place the wreaths at Arlington in an older section of the cemetery, a section which received fewer visitors with each passing year.

This became a quiet tradition that continued until 2005. In 2005, after the wreaths had been placed and a light snow had fallen, an Air Force Press Corps photographer took a photo of the green wreaths with the red bows, resting against the headstones, on the field of white snow. Adding a few solemn words, the photo became a viral hit and word spread quickly. In 2006, the idea for Wreaths Across America was born and wreaths were donated to over 218 state and national cemeteries.

On December 18, 2021, over 2,400,000 wreaths were donated and placed at over 3, 130 locations, in all 50 States and ceremonies at 24 national veterans cemeteries on foreign soil. Over 160,000 volunteers participated in laying the wreaths nationwide. More than 500 truck loads were needed to transport the wreaths to locations nationwide. At Arlington National Cemetery alone, over 253,000 wreaths were laid by more than 57,000 volunteers.

To find out where other ceremonies will be held in Iowa or any other State, click here. Then click on the appropriate State for a listing of locations.

For a form to sponsor a wreath or make a grave specific request for the Blue Grass Cemetery, Rock Island National Cemetery or another local cemetery, click here. Once you download the form, you will be able to fill it out and save it.

Grave specific requests at Rock Island National Cemetery:

American Legion Post 711 is proud to assist in grave specific requests at the Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal, IL. Fill out the form above and return it with your check to American Legion Post 711.

Grave specific requests can also be made in the Blue Grass Cemetery and other local cemeteries.

Or you can send information to the Post email address: ialegion.post711@gmail.com