Wreaths Across America: Why it matters

The national perspective: Across the United States, volunteers honored veterans by placing wreaths at about 2.7 million gravesites in 3,702 locations on Wreaths Across America Day, Dec. 17. As each wreath was carefully placed, the volunteer would say the deceased veteran’s name out loud, ensuring their memory lives on.

A teaching moment: “It is not lost on me that today is a solemn event. The core mission of Wreaths Across America is to remember, to honor and to teach,” Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Army Bobby Christine said in his keynote address at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Graniteville, S.C. Christine, the son of a double amputee veteran of the Vietnam War, used his speech to educate and thank the dozens of youths attending the event. “Much of what I see in uniform causes me to worry about the future of the republic. But then I come here and see you being raised well and I am buoyed by that, and my confidence in our future is returned.”

Building a legacy: American Legion member Tony Venetz was inspired to build a legacy to honor his son, Anthony Venetz, an Army Special Forces soldier. That determination has fueled the tremendous growth of the South Carolina-based event. In just six years, it has grown from 200 wreaths laid at one cemetery to more than 4,000 placed at dozens of cemeteries in multiple states on Wreaths Across America Day. Go deeper: How American Legion members led the increase.

An impressive debut: Greg and Dianne Paul brought the first WAA event this year to their new community of Hillsdale, Mich. Participants braved cold and snow to place more than 1,000 wreaths at two local cemeteries. “The blood and sweat of the men and women we’re going to honor have made it possible on this cold day that you have a warm heart,” said Jeff Rogers, a retired U.S. Navy chief petty officer and the master of ceremonies. Go deeper: How the Pauls pulled it off.