"One Wreath at a Time" Poem


Why Stem to Stone?

Here at Wreaths Across America headquarters preparations are being made for our annual summer weekend event, Stem to Stone. For some this will be there first time to tour the tip land and place a remembrance dog tag and maybe run a 5k in the rugged Maine woods. Others are returning for the annual reunion that guarantees laughter, tears and the making of at least on new lifelong friend. It never gets old. 

The WHY for this gathering is to highlight that Wreaths Across America is not just an event but an experience, and in fact for some has become a way of life.

Participants range from veterans, Blue and Gold Star families to doctors, teachers, truck drivers, retirees and more, but all come with a commitment to carry out the mission and build on the understanding that the contributions of one multiplied can greatly impact the greater good. 

This concept was shared more eloquently in a poem written by longtime volunteer Location Coordinator Jill Harris from Crownsville Veterans' Cemetery in Maryland.

"One Wreath at a Time"

I looked up the definition of stem. A stem is a long, thin, supportive or main section of something.

One cemetery location wants to honor their veterans.

One cemetery location wants to honor their veterans.

One person sponsors a wreath for one veteran.

One person sponsors a wreath for one veteran.

One tree gets tipped or the branches cut off of it every three years.

One tree gets tipped or the branches cut off of it every three years.

One person hand cuts the branches from that tree.

One person hand cuts the branches from that tree.

One wreath maker takes that branch and by hand creates one of the 10 sections of the wreath and repeats the process nine more times.

One wreath maker takes that branch and by hand creates one of the 10 sections of the wreath and repeats the process nine more times.

One red bow is attached.

One red bow is attached.

One box is filled with wreaths.

One box is filled with wreaths.

One trucking company donates their rig, their gas and their driver and their time.

One trucking company donates their rig, their gas and their driver and their time.

One volunteer removes that box from the truck at its destination cemetery.

One volunteer removes that box from the truck at its destination cemetery.

One volunteer opens the box and removes the wreath.

One volunteer opens the box and removes the wreath.

One name is said aloud and honored and remembered...and, 

One name is said aloud and honored and remembered...and, 

One child standing by is taught the value of the freedom that we hold so dear.

One child standing by is taught the value of the freedom that we hold so dear.

One wreath placed on the headstone of a veteran.

One wreath placed on the headstone of a veteran.

Repeat this process 2.3 million times…

Repeat this process 2.3 million times…

So we talk about stem to stone beginning with trees and ending with the stones.

We are the stems - the 2,500 plus locations (now 3,200+) - all of the hands that touch that one wreath for that one veteran.

This is the simplified version of getting your wreath to a veterans grave.

From the beginning I have said one wreath at a time I WILL honor them all.

One wreath at a time WE will honor them all.

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Thank you, Jill, and all the volunteers that make the mission to Remember, Honor, Teach a reality in your own communities. You, the volunteers and supporters, are Stem to Stone and in working together we not only share history and instill accountability for freedom in our children, we also set the example of the power of one.

Please tune in to Wreaths Across America Radio to hear from our volunteers and those participating at this year’s Stem to Stone – and share your memories with us on social media!