Wreaths Across America, in Partnership with the Military Women's Memorial Foundation Dedicates Military Women's Grove
The balsam fir trees in this Grove will now hold the replica dog tags of thousands of America's military women, in honor and memory of all women who have served our nation – past and present.
Wreaths Across America, in Partnership with the Military Women's Memorial Foundation Dedicates Military Women's Grove
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wreaths Across America, in Partnership with the Military Women's Memorial Foundation Dedicates Military Women's Grove
COLUMBIA FALLS, ME – Sept. 29, 2021 – On Monday, national nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA), as part of its Veterans Remembrance Tree Program, in partnership with the Military Women's Memorial Foundation, dedicated the Military Women's Grove on the balsam tip lands in Maine. The balsam fir trees in this Grove will now hold the replica dog tags of thousands of America's military women, in honor and memory of all women who have served our nation – past and present.
View the Facebook live event that took place on Monday, Sept. 27, at 10am ET here.
Phyllis Wilson, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 (Ret.) and President of the Military Women's Memorial Foundation, addressed the more than 100 guests, many of whom were women veterans, including WWII Nurse Helen Barry Siragusa, who is 98 years young. In her remarks, Wilson recognized and proudly represented the three million women that have defended this nation since the Revolutionary War. "Today, this magnificent place – a place that feels like hallowed ground itself – will become a touchstone for lifting and remembering women's service to our great nation for generations to come," said Wilson. "I'm confident that Margaret Chase Smith – that great Maine daughter, indomitable legislator, and champion of women and the nation's servicemembers – is smiling down today, as we join the Worcester family and Wreaths Across America to dedicate this grove in her beloved state of Maine, in honor of Military Women."
The new Military Women's Grove is located on the Worcester Resources balsam tip lands and consists of approximately 10 acres. This is the 18th section of land to be dedicated to a group or organization as another way to remember and honor our nation's veterans as part of WAA's Veterans Remembrance Tree Program. As Gold Star families visited the land in Columbia Falls, Maine, where the balsam tips are harvested each year to be made into the wreaths that are placed on veterans' graves, they found a sense of peace and tranquility from the land. The Remembrance Tree Program gives a living memorial to their loved one.
"I have been so impressed with all the amazing women veterans I've had the honor to speak to and learn from as we prepared for this dedication. Their stories can teach us so much about courage, character, personal responsibility, service and love of country," said Karen Worcester, executive director of WAA. "Our hope at Wreaths Across America is to help share these important stories and teach young people about the opportunities available to them through service."
WAA encourages women veterans and those who have served to contact the organization to have a replica dog tag made and added to the grove. WAA's dog tag machine allows the families of the veteran to customize their message for the tag which will be placed on a tree that will become their living memorial to their loved one. The trees are kept in production and their balsam tips are harvested every three years and made into veterans' wreaths that are placed on headstones nationwide each December. It is FREE to participate in this program and individuals can complete a form online to participate.
This year, National Wreaths Across America Day will take place on Saturday, December 18, 2021, at over 2,700 participating locations nationwide.
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About Wreaths Across America Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization's mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans' cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.
For more information or to sponsor a wreath please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
About the Military Women's Memorial
The Military Women's Memorial, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, is America's only major national memorial and historical repository to document and tell the story of women's service to the nation. Located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, it features an education center, a one-of-a-kind interactive database of women's records of service, exhibitions, a world-class collection of artifacts and memorabilia related to women's service, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Donate to this Charity Navigator 4 Star Organization and join the National Registration Campaign to help share the stories of women veterans.
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Wreath Sponsorship
Wreaths Across America, Columbia Falls, ME 04623, United States (NAGVRW) |19520|
Did you know that Wreaths Across America now offers recurring sponsorships? You can select the occurrence and cancel or pause anytime! Register now by completing this form! (https://tinyurl.com/n735zrbr)
What does it mean to sponsor a wreath? It means you are supporting a yearlong mission to Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach the next generation the value of freedom. Your sponsorship will support the new and existing programs developed to share the mission. And, it will place a wreath to honor an American hero at one of more than 3,700 participating locations this year on National Wreaths Across America Day – a day set aside to lay gathers as Americans with the same goal.
We can’t do that without your support, though. Your sponsorship will ensure a hand-crafted wreath of all-American balsam and hand-tied with a red velvet bow here in Columbia Falls, Maine. It will then be sent to one of our participating locations, where a volunteer will place it on the marker of a hero. That volunteer will then “say their name” to ensure that the legacy of duty, service, and sacrifice is never forgotten.
So, what does it mean to sponsor a wreath? It means you have the opportunity to join a grateful nation in saying “thank you” to those who stepped up to serve.
*Please Note: Specific locations designated as "ceremonial-only" accept a limited number of sponsorships. Any additional sponsorships received beyond those used for the ceremony will be distributed to other locations.
