Editorial: Laying wreaths of honor

Monday, Dec. 25, 2006 | 7:23 a.m.

A Maine businessman's decision to dress up Arlington National Cemetery for the holidays in 1992 has spread across the country in a touching act of honor toward America's fallen military members.

Morrill Worcester credits his initial decision to take the wreaths to Arlington to a boyhood trip to Washington, D.C., which included a visit to the cemetery. Fifteen years ago, when his Worcester Wreath Co. had 4,000 extra wreaths, he thought of putting them there.

The response to the idea was overwhelming. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, then a member of the House, gained the approval of cemetery officials. Volunteers eagerly joined, tying ribbons and making preparations. Another company donated trucking services. And Worcester soon was laying wreaths, which he says are a sign of respect and honor.

What was a surplus of wreaths quickly became an annual tradition. Students, veterans groups and a host of others have helped since, this year taking more than 5,000 20-inch balsam fir wreaths to Arlington.

Word of Worcester's annual pilgrimage gained national attention, USA Today recently reported, thanks in part to an evocative photo of wreaths in the snow-dusted cemetery and a sentimental poem that became a chain e-mail last year.

This year the company enlisted the help of the Civil Air Patrol to expand the program and form Wreaths Across America. This month more than 215 national cemeteries and veterans memorials in all 50 states received wreaths. Seven large wreaths were put up in the pavilion at the Southern Nevada Veterans Cemetery.

Worcester says he wants to remember the fallen and honor those who served. We couldn't think of a more fitting way to do so.