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News Release
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Department of Veterans Affairs Wreaths Across America, Dec. 14 (Photo) - 12/09/19

The public is invited to honor nation’s heroes during annual holiday wreath-laying event.

WHAT:     The Department of Veterans Affairs partners with Wreaths Across America to hold the annual holiday wreath-laying ceremony honoring and remembering our nation’s Veterans.

WHEN:     Saturday, December 14, 12:00 PM

WHERE:   Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt. Scott Blvd., Portland, OR 97086

BACKGROUND:

Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company, was a 12-year-old paper boy when he won a trip to Washington D.C. The experience was one he would never forget, and Arlington National Cemetery made an especially indelible impression on him. In 1992, Worcester Wreath found themselves with a surplus of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. Recalling his boyhood trip, Worcester worked to place wreaths in the older sections of the cemetery that had been receiving fewer visitors with each passing year. The annual tribute went on quietly for several years, until 2005, when a photo of the stones at Arlington, adorned with wreaths and covered in snow, circulated around the internet.

Today, volunteers place holiday wreaths to honor and remember America’s veterans at more than 100 VA national cemeteries, in addition to Arlington National Cemetery and state veteran cemeteries, as part of the annual Wreaths Across America event.

“This annual tribute to our nation’s veterans is more than just a patriotic activity,” said Peter Sardo, Willamette National Cemetery director. “Wreaths Across America is an opportunity for VA to partner with key organizations as we honor those laid to rest in VA’s cemeteries.”

The Wreaths Across America ceremonies align with VA’s National Cemetery Administration’s mission to increase public awareness by sharing the stories of America’s Veterans through research, education, and community commemoration.

Located on the top of Mt. Scott, the 307.6 - acre Willamette National Cemetery opened February 14, 1951. Since that time, the cemetery has conducted more than 178,412 interments of Veterans and eligible dependents.

Burial in a VA national cemetery is open to all members of the armed forces and veterans who have met minimum active duty service requirements, as applicable by law and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Members of the reserve components of the armed forces who die while on active duty under certain circumstances or who die while on training duty are also eligible for burial, as are service members and former service members who were eligible for retired pay at the time of their death. Spouses, minor children and, under certain conditions, dependent unmarried adult children are also eligible for burial even if they predecease the veteran. For more information, call 503-273-5250 or visit www.cem.va.gov.

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