CLEARFIELD – It began with a trip to Washington, D.C. for a 12-year-old boy in Maine.
He never forgot the impact of seeing Arlington National Cemetery or the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Years later, when he had his own company, Worcester Wreaths, he found one holiday season that he had a surplus of wreaths.
Working with Senator Olympia Snowe, the company was able to send those wreaths to the oldest part of Arlington, to decorate the stones of soldiers.
And from there a tradition was born.
Every year, thousands of wreaths are laid at the grave of American veterans, not only here, but at American cemeteries in Europe. In 2022 more than 2.7 million wreaths were laid.
The mission: Remember. Honor. Teach.
This year, the Historic Crown Crest Cemetery wants to honor its veterans with a wreath-laying ceremony in conjunction with the national event Dec. 14, and it needs your help.
The wreaths are not free. There are material and shipping costs and the event requires donations to purchase wreaths for each location.
Here is how you can help.
You can send a donation to the cemetery. Make the check out to Wreaths Across America and then send it to Historic Crown Crest Cemetery, 2122 Washington Ave., Clearfield PA 16830.
You can also choose to sponsor a wreath. One wreath is $17, two are $34, five are $85 and 10 are $170, and checks are made out the same as above.
Donations can also be made by visiting www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/PA0866, or by using a smartphone to scan the QR code found on Historic Crown Crest Cemetery’s Facebook page.
Furthermore, a fundraising dance is being planned at the Clearfield Veterans of Foreign Wars Michael F. Sicks Post No.1785 on Oct. 26, so mark your calendars.
The dance will be held from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m., and music will be provided by Over the Influence. Tickets are $10 and are available from any HCCC member or by calling 814-765-7742.
For more information on Wreaths Across America, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
Wreaths Across America is unaffiliated with any religious organization or political party.
