WREATH CLEAN UP AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY

You might remember the volunteer outing in December where we joined work colleagues at Arlington Memorial Cemetery to help place 90,000 holiday wreaths on the headstones of fallen troops.

Well, someone had to help the good folks at Wreaths Across America clean up the place, so we put together another group to collect and appropriately dispose of said wreaths.

Dragging old wreaths to the waste receptacle. 

Throwing the wreaths into the container.

Helping compact the old wreaths into the container.

Happy team of volunteers.

To join the next wreath placement or clean up for next year, check out the Wreaths Across America website. 

WREATHS FOR 90,000 HEADSTONES

The holidays bring with them lots of opportunities to do something for others. Food drives, toy donations, all those red-suited guys standing in front of stores ringing their bells. But last month a friend told us about what has to be one of the most unique volunteer activities around DC. 

Liz places a wreath on a headstone at Arlington Cemetery.

On the second Saturday of each December, hundreds of people gather at Arlington National Cemetery to recognize fallen troops by placing wreaths at their headstones. The folks at Wreaths Across America, a non-profit started 20 years ago by a swell guy named Morrill Worcester, host the event together with individual sponsors like you and me, corporate donors (not like you and me) and volunteer truck drivers to haul the wreaths. 

Good start, but more work to be done.

This year, we gathered up a few co-workers and, together with thousands of others, helped make 2011 a record breaking year by laying more than 90,000 wreaths on grave markers throughout the Cemetery. It's an amazing sight to see, those thousands of headstones decorated with wreaths and a red bow to mark the holidays. It's even more impressive for the families of those who paid the ultimate price for their country. 


To learn more, join the annual January clean up, or volunteer at the 2012 wreath laying next December, check out Wreaths Across America.