Honoring Our Heroes This Holiday Season

WARREN COUNTY, OH  --"Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve. Teach the next generation the value of freedom."... This is the mission of Wreaths Across America. 

The concept of laying a wreath on every veterans grave started back in 1992, when Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, found his company with a surplus of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. His memory to Washington D.C, as a young 12 year-old, of seeing the hundreds of thousands of graves and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery gave him an idea of what to do with the 5,000 extra wreaths. 

After working with an aide of Maine's Senator Olympia Snowe (now retired) and through the help of a number of other individuals and organizations, Worcester was able to place the surplus wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery's older sections that had been receiving fewer visitors.  

Worcester, along with Members of the Maine State Society of Washington D.C and other volunteers continued on with this special event quiety and privately for the next 12 years. But, in 2005 everything changed. A photo of the tomb stones at Arlington covered in snow and decorated with green wreaths with a red ribbon went viral on the internet. People across the county wanted to help with the Arlington event, while others wanted to copy the Arlington service at their local cemeteries.

Unable to send thousands of wreaths to each state, Worcester sent seven wreaths to every state: one for each branch of the military and one to represent the PO/MIAs. Then in 2006, the Civil Air Patrol got involved, and over 150 locations around the county held a wreath laying ceremony. 

By 2007, Wreaths Across America was organized with the simple mission to Remember. Honor. Teach. Today, Wreaths Across America has grown to where in 2024, over three million sponsored veterans' wreaths were placed on headstones at 4,909 participating locations.

This year Wreaths Across America will happen on Saturday December 13 and several communities in Warren County are participating. After a ceremony that usually includes a speaker, someone from each branch of the military, area first responders and a 21 Gun Salute, guest are asked to take the Remembrance Wreath and place it on a grave of the fallen hero. And during this time to help  complete the mission of Remember and Honor, the wreath layer is asked to  say the person's name on the grave aloud. 

The areas that are holding a full Wreaths Across America Ceremony are:

CARLISLE 

Wreaths Across America will be at Carlisle Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m. The ceremony at 12:00 p.m. will be begin laying the Remembrance Wreaths to Remember and Honor the veterans in the New Jersey Presbyterian Cemetery that is adjacent to the church. To learn more about Carlisle's Wreaths Across America ceremony click here. 

MAINEVILLE / HAMILTON TOWNSHIP

On December 13, 2025 at 12:00 pm Wreaths Across America will be at Maineville Cemetery to Remember and Honor our veterans through the laying of Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country's fallen heroes. (Wreath Placement Immediately Following Ceremony.)

The Maineville Cemetery located at 476 E Foster Maineville Rd Maineville, OH, is where the ceremony will take place beginning at 12:00 PM, with wreath placement to follow at Maineville, Murdock, Hopkinsville, and Baker Cemeteries.

To learn more on the Maineville Cemetery and Wreaths Across America! click here.

MASON

This holiday season, Deerfield Township, the City of Mason, and the American Legion are joining together to honor nation’s veterans through the Wreaths Across America program. Rose Hill Cemetery will host the local Wreaths Across America ceremony on Saturday, December 13 at noon, featuring a moving program honoring all who served in any branch of the military. The ceremony will include a 21-gun salute and the laying of wreaths in remembrance and gratitude.

Every veteran is remembered and honored with a wreath placed at their final resting place. Donations are still needed to provide wreaths for all local veterans. 

Join your community in this powerful tradition of remembrance and help honor those who gave so much for our freedom. To donate or learn more, visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/OHROSH  

MIDDLETOWN 

Woodside Cemetery And Arboretum's will host a Wreaths Across AmericaoOn December 13, 2025 at 12:00 pm. (Wreath Placement Immediately Following Ceremony.) To learn more about Middletown's Woodside Cemetery and Arboretum's Wreaths Across America Ceremony click here.

WAYNESVILLE 

Waynesville connection to Wreaths Across America is primarily through Miami Cemetery and the American Legion Post 615. To learn more about Waynesville's ceremony click here.

To find other places hosting a Wreaths for America ceremony visit Wreaths across America website and look for LOCATION GUIDE. 

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