“Wreaths Across America” greets the WJHS community

Post date: Dec 11, 2019 6:13:31 PM

It was a steady and drenching rain on December 9th when Wreaths Across America rolled slowly by Wells Junior High School on its annual 750-mile journey to Arlington National Cemetery and other locations bringing thousands upon thousands of “remembrance wreaths” to be placed at the gravesites of veterans.

Despite the weather, a large portion of the junior high student body and several staff members stood outside to greet the convoy of semi-tractor trailers and other vehicles including an escort by numerous area law enforcement. Since 2007, Wreaths Across America has made either a full stop or a slow drive-by visit to WJHS. When the convoy has stopped, convoy members, students, and others have gathered together at Ocean View Cemetery in Wells for a solemn wreath-laying ceremony.

The trip to Arlington National Cemetery with wreaths to honor veterans during the holiday season was the idea of Morrill Worcester president of the Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine. In 1992, Mr. Worcester decided to bring a surplus of his company’s holiday wreaths to Arlington. Since that time his idea has grown exponentially involving 1.8 million wreaths placed at gravesites around the United States in 2018. Mr. Morrill’s idea has evolved into what is now called National Wreaths Across America Day which, this year, falls on December 14th.

Wells Junior High School students and school staff view the Wreaths Across America convoy on its way to Arlington, Virginia on December 9, 2019