At the time of year when Americans are stringing Christmas lights, one organization was putting together a national effort to commemorate fallen soldiers with graveside wreaths. On Saturday, Wreaths Across America completed its mission of laying more than 900,000 wreaths on the graves of military veterans, not only nationwide, but all around the world. The annual community-oriented tradition, started in 1992 by Maine business owner Rob Worcester, traveled to over 1,000 national cemeteries and an additional 25 overseas.
"It's tremendous; there's a lot of help involved," Worcester told USA Today. "We have 320 trucks from about 150 volunteer truck companies."
Saturday marked the finale of a week long journey from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. "One part of Wreaths Across America day is an honor convoy that goes directly to Arlington (Cemetery). The 12-truck convoy takes six days (with) stops at schools, veterans' homes and other community centers," said Worcester.
U.S. congressman – and former Navy SEAL – Rep. Ryan Zinke was on hand with thousands of other volunteers on Saturday to help distribute the wreaths. According to The Hill, Zinke served in the Iraq War and spent more than 23 years in the Navy. He felt it was his duty in his life after service to be in Arlington. Looking out at the thousands of graves, he was well aware of the human cost they represented.
"We often fight wars with our young," he said. "That's the sacrifice."
Adorning Arlington's graves is just one way of making sure those sacrifices are not forgotten. Since 2007, when Wreaths Across America went non-profit, the number of distributed wreaths has skyrocketed from 30,000 to the more than 900,000 wreaths laid this year.