Each December, America’s profound respect, admiration, and honor for our fallen military is expressed through National Wreaths Across America Day.
The event is conducted through the organization Wreaths Across America whose mission is to “Remember, Honor, and Teach.” The mission is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at over 1,200 additional locations in all 50 states, and at sea, and abroad.
This year’s event took place on Dec. 16, inspired by the words “I’m an American. Yes, I am.”
The words are from a song written by Rick Charette titled “I’m an American.” A rendition was performed by the Kennebunk Elementary School Children’s Chorus in Maine, during the 2016 Annual Wreath Escort to Arlington National Cemetery.
The children’s performance ignited patriotism in the hearts of their audience. As the entire audience joined the children in song, all cheered, and were struck with awe at America. The song is now continually song at Wreaths Across America events.
The origins of Wreaths Across America began in 1992 when Morrill Worchester, a wreath-maker from Maine had 5,000 extra holiday wreaths.
Worchester decided to use these wreaths as an expression of gratitude for fallen military personnel whose sacrifices gave him the freedom to be an American.
The 2017 wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery began with the arrival of a “mile-long convoy of ceremonial vehicles, including tractor-trailers, buses, and cars carrying wreaths, veterans, Gold Star and Blue Star Families, and supporters.”
The recent wreath laying honoring America’s fallen military at Arlington National Cemetery demands our eternal remembrance and reverence for our patriots.
Our respect must be expressed not only at Arlington, but on hallowed ground wherever America’s fallen are laid to rest. Most importantly, the honor must forever burn in the hearts, minds, and soul of every person privileged to call America home.
America is the “land of the free, and home of the brave” only because our sacred freedom, liberty, and democracy has been protected and defended by our armed forces.
Our nation must forever remember their sacrifices and be fully committed to honoring their legacy. This honor deserves a full-force commitment throughout all of society, but especially through character education initiatives in our schools and campuses. This is critical to preserving and igniting the hearts of patriotism for America’s future.
As wreaths on America’s hallowed resting places remind us to honor our fallen, we must also pause to remember those laid to rest on distant shores.
According to the American Battle Monuments Commission, there are 26 permanent military cemeteries and 29 federal memorials located throughout the world.
We must forever remain mystically united with our fallen on the hallowed grounds of these cemeteries. These locations include France, Belgium, United Kingdom, Philippines, Italy, Luxembourg, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tunisia, Northern Mariana Islands, Morocco, Panama, Mexico, and South Korea.
These cemeteries and memorials, most of which commemorate sacrifices of World War I and World War II, demand a mystical remembrance in the heart of every American. The heartbeat of each American must always beat with respect, reverence, and honor.
America must also eternally honor the clarion call of Lincoln at Gettysburg. His words must inspire respect for all who have offered the ultimate sacrifice for our nation:
“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.”
“I’m an American. Yes, I am.
I love my country. I love my land.
With you and me together, we each play a part.
We can make a difference with love in our hearts.
“We are many. We are one.
We are shining in the sun.
We’re united standing tall.
“With liberty and justice for all.
I’m an American. Yes, I am.
I hold the world’s future here in my hands.
Gonna sing and shout it! It’s great to be free.
Every single person has dignity.
“I’m an American. Yes, I am.
I promise that I will do what I can.
I’ll stand up for freedom. Live my life without fear
Going to make a better world, I know we’ll persevere.”
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