Remember, honor and teach

A truck from the Wreaths Across America honor fleet made a pit stop in Sundance on Friday. The Central Oregon Trucking Co. vehicle is among hundreds of volunteer companies who help transport wreaths across the nation to participating cemeteries.

December 19 marks Wreaths Across America day this year, when thousands of holiday wreaths are placed on the graves of those who have served this nation. The mission began with Morrill Worcester of Maine, who won a trip to Washington, D.C. when he was 12 years old and never forgot the experience of visiting Arlington National Cemetery.

In 1992, his company, Worcester Wreath Company, found itself with a surplus and he realized he had an opportunity to honor America's veterans. With the aide of Senator Olympia Snowe, arrangements were made to place them at Arlington, in an older section that was receiving fewer visitors each year.

Other organizations and individuals stepped up to help, including local trucking company Blue Bird Ranch. This continued until 2005, when a photograph of the stones circulated the internet and it received national attention.

Thousands of requests from all around the country from people wanting to help or emulate the project at their own National and State cemeteries saw the project begin to grow. By 2008, over 300 locations were laying more than 100,000 wreaths a year thanks to 60,000 volunteers, and the U.S. Congress unanimously voted to create Wreaths Across America Day.

South Dakota Veterans Cemetery is one of the participating locations. At 11 a.m. on December 18, wreaths will be laid on the graves of fallen heroes and the names of each and every one will be said aloud. Visit wreathsacrossamerica.org to sponsor wreaths or volunteer to help.