As a 12-year-old paperboy, Morrill Worcester of Maine won a trip to Washington D.C. that included a visit to Arlington National Cemetery. Seeing hundreds of thousands of graves and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier left an indelible impression on the adolescent – one that would later inspire him as an adult. In 1992, as the owner of a wreath company, Worcester pondered what to do with a large surplus of wreaths. He then remembered the rows and rows of white marble headstones marking the final resting place of veterans and leaders. With the help of volunteers and donors, Worcester was able to transport the wreaths to America’s most hallowed ground. The December routine continued for over a decade. In 2005, a photo of the wreaths honoring our country’s heroes circulated across the nation, eventually leading to allowing all Americans to participate in this annual tradition.
“Let their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored.” — Daniel Webster
