JBER prepares for Wreaths Across America event this Saturday

As the holidays approach, families all across the U.S. will take time to honor and remember those who cannot be home to celebrate. For millions of veterans’ families, one way their loved ones will be remembered at veteran cemeteries is with a wreath for Wreaths Across America Day.

This year, National Wreaths Across America (WAA) Day will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024, as more than two million volunteers and supporters will gather to Remember, Honor and Teach at more than 4,600 participating locations in all 50 states, at sea and abroad. Here in Alaska, the WAA event will be held at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery.

The ceremony starts at 12:00 pm with the wreath placement immediately following the ceremony. During the laying of Remembrance wreaths on the graves of the fallen heroes, each veteran’s name will be read aloud. It is expected to be a full ceremony.

To date, 4,137 wreaths have been sponsored, with WAA reaching 59.1% of its goal to date. 2,863 to go.

The wreath-laying began more than 30 years ago and is still held annually, on the second or third Saturday of December. WAA's annual pilgrimage from Harrington, Maine to Arlington National Cemetery has become known as “the world’s largest veterans’ parade." Every year the convoy of trucks, local law enforcement, staff and supporters stop at schools, monuments, veterans’ homes and communities along the way to talk about the Wreaths Across America mission and remind people how important it is to remember, honor and teach.

In 2022, WAA volunteers placed more than 2.7 million sponsored veterans' wreaths on headstones of our nation's service members at 3,702 participating locations. This was accomplished with the support of more than 5,000 sponsorship groups, corporation contributions, and in-kind donations from the transportation industry across the country.

To learn more about WAA or to sponsor a wreath, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/