The Wreaths Across America convoy passed through southern Maine early this week, with Scarborough and Westbrook among the stops on the way to Arlington National Cemetery, where for the 20th year wreaths from Worcester Wreath Co. in Harrington will be placed at the sacred site.
Each year since 1992, thousands of wreaths from the Washington County town have been delivered to Washington, D.C. The special shipment is now watched over by police escort, and at each of its many stops, its mission is underlined.
In Holden, east of Bangor, a wreath was reportedly placed at the local veterans memorial by a 93-year-old who had flown more than 70 missions as a bottom gunner in World War II. In Portland, at Cheverus High School, bagpipes and drummers provided the backdrop as veterans, including a Tuskegee Airman who lives in South Portland, spoke of their service and what it means to them. They met hundreds of well-wishers at Cabela’s in Scarborough Sunday night and at Westbrook Middle School Monday morning, where those on hand included a Westbrook resident, Joan LaBrecque, whose grandson is a Marine preparing for deployment.
The convoy, with officers from Maine State Police and other police departments, including Scarborough, Westbrook and Old Orchard Beach, then continued south, handing off to New Hampshire law enforcement near the border.
By the weekend, it’ll be in Washington, D.C., where Gov. Paul LePage will join in the ceremony that places wreaths on all the graves, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A Portland police lieutenant will reportedly lay a wreath on the grave of former President John F. Kennedy.
“We did it once because we thought it would be nice,” Karen Worcester, who runs Worcester Wreath Co. and the Wreaths Across America program with her husband Morrill, told the Associated Press. “We did it from then forward because we thought it was the right thing to do.”
The 643-acre Arlington National Cemetery has more than 400,000 people buried there, the vast majority of whom served in the nation’s armed forces. It is the site of Kennedy’s grave and its “eternal flame.” It is the home of the Tomb of the Unknowns, guarded in silence around the clock by members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment.
It is the final resting place for thousands upon thousands who gave their lives for this country all over the world, and whose white tombstones, stretching on for miles, are a solemn reminder of the sacrifice that has marked the history of the United States.
This weekend, laying near many of those white tombstones will be the green wreaths from Worcester Wreath Co., a holiday present from all Mainers honoring the service that has kept us free.
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