Civil Air Patrol Cadet Homes stands at attention awaiting the arrival of the Wreaths Across America caravan of trucks containing the wreaths to be laid at every grave site in Arlington National Cemetery.

This years Grand Marshall is Edith T. Nowels whose brother Horace Marvin "Buddy" Thorne (September 29, 1918 – December 21, 1944) was a United State Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in World War II.

In what began in 1992 as one man's dream and a heartfelt gesture, Worcester Wreath Company initiated the Arlington National Cemetery project - donating over 5000 wreaths each year to adorn the headstones of our fallen veterans. Karen and Morrill Worcester.

The wreath laying is held annually, on the second Saturday of every December. Our annual pilgrimage from Harrington, Maine to Arlington National Cemetery has become known as the world’s largest veteran’s parade, stopping at schools, monuments, veteran’s homes and communities all along the way to remind people how important it is to remember, honor and teach.

WAA is committed to teaching younger generations about the value of their freedoms, and the importance of honoring those who sacrificed so much to protect those freedoms. We offer learning tools, interactive media projects, and opportunities for youth groups to participate in our events. We also work to create opportunities to connect “the Greatest Generation” with the “Generation of Hope”. The inspirational stories of our World War II Veterans must be passed on to the leaders of the future.

Wayne Hanson, Vietnam Vet and the Arlington Wreaths Across America Project Coordinator

Country and Western singer Lindsay Lawler, right, and guitarist Chris Roberts sing "God Bless America" during the opening ceremony for the annual Wreaths Across America event at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Dec. 14, 2014. Thousands of volunteers helped place over 700,000 wreaths at the graves of fallen service members

Morrill Worcester speaking to the volunteers about the mission of Wreaths Across America.

Edith T. Nowels whose brother Horace Marvin "Bud" Thorne was a Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor for his actions in World War II.

Marine Corps Sergeant Major Bryan B. Battaglia who serves as the 2nd Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman, Martin E. Dempsey Joint Chiefs of Staff speaks of what it means to the military of the many years of honoring our Veterans at Arlington by the Worcester family.

Morrill Worcester's grandson holding award containing appreciation letter and challenge coins from Marine Corps Sergeant Major Bryan B. Battaglia and Martin E. Dempsey, Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Karen Worcester and her grandson.

On 6 August 2011, a U.S. Boeing CH-47 Chinock military helicopter, call sign 'Extortion 17', was shot down while transporting a quick reaction force attempting to reinforce an engaged unit of Army Rangers in Wardak province, west of Kabul, Afghanistan.

The resulting crash killed all 38 people on board — 25 American special operations personnel, five United States Army National Guard and Army Reserve crewmen, seven Afghan commandos, and one Afghan interpreter — as well as a U.S. military working dog.

It is considered the worst loss of U.S Military life in a single incident in the Afghanistan campaign, surpassing Operation Red Wings in 2005 (Note: during Operation Red Wings, on 28 June 2005, a Chinook helicopter carrying a U.S. Navy SEAL team was shot down by a RPG round as it attempted to extract U.S. troops on the ground).

Jon Cavaiani, a retired Army sergeant major and former prisoner of war who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1974 for fending off an overwhelming number of enemy soldiers in Vietnam while allowing most of his men to escape, died on July 29, 2014 in Stanford, CA.

Placed with care by: Arlington Chapter Gold Star Wives
Hero and Husband
SFC Carlos M. Santos-Silva
Section 60-9150
“12/25/1997: Carlos & Kristen = Solepartners found forever.
Love you, miss you, till we talk again x3, Kristen”
“Dad, I miss you gaming partner, always your son Cameron”

The Worcester family pose for photographs after laying a wreath at the grave site of Army Pvt. William Christman who died in service to his country, a victim of measles, the 20-year-old from Pocono Lake, Pa., died in a D.C. hospital in 1864.
He was the first person to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Christman has one of the most distinct honors in military history.
Arlington National Cemetery serves as the final resting place for military members, a tradition that began with Christman's burial in what is now Section 27.

Rene Arthur Gagnon, participant in the famous flag raising on Iwo Jima, he was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, on 7 March 1926. Rene died At home, Hooksett, New Hampshire, October 12, 1979.
Rene was one of the U.S. servicemen who raised the flag on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945.

Rene was ineligible for burial in Arlington National Cemetery, but was granted a waiver on April 16, 1981, and moved to Section 51 of Arlington on July 7, 1981.

David Charles Dolby aka "Mad Dog," as he was known to his Army comrades -- was a solid 6-footer who wrestled and played football in high school. He enlisted in the Army at 18 and became an Army Ranger and a member of the Green Berets. He was known to scout the jungle ahead of the other men, toting his heavy M60 machine gun like a rifle.
On May 21, 1966, his platoon came under heavy fire which killed six soldiers and wounded a number of others, including the platoon leader. Throughout the ensuing four-hour battle, Dolby led his platoon in its defense, organized the extraction of the wounded, and directed artillery fire despite close-range attacks from enemy snipers and automatic weapons. He single-handedly attacked the hostile positions and silenced three machine guns, allowing a friendly force to execute a flank attack.
Dolby was subsequently promoted to Sergeant and awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle. The medal was formally presented to him by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 28, 1967.

Thank You to all the thousands of volunteers through out the United States who laid wreaths today in honor of our fallen heroes, see you next year!