ANNA MARIA ISLAND – With the holidays just weeks away, the annual sponsorship drive to support Wreaths Across America is underway, and the local Blue Star Mothers chapter is hard at work looking for wreath sponsorships from Island residents and anyone else in the area who wishes to honor a veteran this Christmas season.
The wreaths were part of an annual tradition that was started by Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine. The company had an excess of wreaths in 1992 and the owner, Morrill Worcester, remembered a boyhood trip to Arlington when he was 12 years old. He decided to get the wreaths to Arlington to honor our nation’s veterans.
This plan would require more than just Worcester donating the wreaths, and that wouldn’t be a problem as a number of other individuals and organizations stepped up to help. James Prout, owner of local trucking company Blue Bird Ranch Inc., generously provided transportation all the way to Virginia. Volunteers from the local American Legion and VFW Posts gathered with members of the community to decorate each wreath with traditional red, hand-tied bows. Members of the Maine State Society of Washington, D.C. helped to organize the wreath-laying, which included a special ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Wreaths Across America became an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2005 after a photo of wreaths on the graves at Arlington National Cemetery went viral on the internet. Thousands of requests came in from all over the country from people not only wanting to help out with Arlington, but to also emulate the projects at their local national and state cemeteries. Through the efforts of volunteers nationwide, hundreds of thousands of wreaths are laid on graves at veterans’ cemeteries nationwide.
Anyone wishing to sponsor a wreath can do so by contacting the Southwest Florida Blue Star Mothers Chapter FL4. This 501(c)(3) non-profit organization plans to lay thousands of wreaths at the Sarasota National Cemetery, the closest national VA cemetery to the Island.
All Christians laid to rest at the cemetery are given a wreath unless their families have stated they don’t wish to have decorations on their loved one’s graves. All other families have either their wishes on file, or are contacted by Rosentrater to make sure their wishes are kept top priority.
With over 21,000 graves at Sarasota National Cemetery, is there ever a shortage of wreaths, and what happens if this is the case?
“We happen to have the Patterson Foundation, and they pledge that if by a certain date if there are not enough wreaths they will cover the difference, and it’s rare that you would have a family do that,” said Ferris-Fearnside.
Since Wreaths Across America is a nationwide effort, there will be some cemeteries that have a surplus of wreaths, in which case they will be given to a region that may have come up short, making sure nothing goes to waste.
If you sponsor a wreath, it’s not just a financial donation. You are welcome to come to the cemetery and assist in laying the wreaths; in fact, it’s encouraged. Blue Star Mothers is asking that all payments be submitted by Nov. 22 to assure delivery by Dec. 18. The date for laying the wreaths has not yet been announced.
Wreaths are available for a donation of $15 each and you can purchase as many as you wish. Make checks payable to SWF Blue Star Mothers FL4, P.O. Box 495301, Port Charlotte, FL 33949. You can also send payment to Karen Ferris-Fearnside, 1257 Spoonbill Landings Circle, Bradenton FL, 34209. If you have any questions please call Linda at 941-456-1920.
