Dorothy Brush "Random Thoughts" Published Jan. 7, 2004

Wreaths recognize our heroes

Here we are in the first week of 2004. Most of the decorations of the holiday season are stored away until next year. Some of us concentrate when we write the date of the year to be sure we write 2004. I had one story left over from 2003 and since we are just barely into the new year I hope you will enjoy it.

On Dec. 17 a small color picture appeared in an area newspaper which showed large evergreen wreaths, all with big red bows attached, being placed at gravestones in Arlington National Cemetery. Underneath the words explained, "The 4,000 donated wreaths were placed by volunteers from as far away as Maine." There is so much more to the story.

In 1998 I saw a tiny item in Yankee magazine telling about a wreath company in Maine that had been making and sending wreaths to Arlington since 1993. It was their way of recognizing hero veterans. My reaction was there had to be more to the story. The name of the company was given so I dialed directory assistance. The operator said there was no Worcester Wreath Co. listed in Harrington, ME. Was there a listing for the Blue Bird Trucking Co, I asked. The answer was no, but then she added there was a Blue Bird Ranch. I called that number, and the man who answered the phone was able to give me the number for the wreath company.

The owner of the company, Morrill Worcester, was in an all-day meeting, but his secretary answered many of my questions and sent me more information. The town of Harrington, ME, has a population of less than 1,000. The seasonal business at the Worcester Wreath Company employs 500 to 800 wreath makers during the holiday season. When the idea of what became the Arlington Project was launched in 1993, additional help was needed. Many volunteers came forward to help make wreaths. There were Boy Scouts, veterans groups and independent wreath makers.

Once the wreaths were ready for transport the Blue Bird Ranch truck was donated to carry the generous gift the more than 700 miles south to Arlington. The staff at the cemetery chooses the section to be decorated. That leaves more volunteers needed to place the wreaths. It took one more phone call to Fairfax, VA to finish the story.

There is the Maine State Society of Washington, DC, which adds the last layer of volunteers. This group organizes and coordinates the event at the cemetery. Members of the society are joined by volunteers from the offices of Maine's congressional delegation. When the truck arrives at the gates of Arlington at 9 a.m. sharp on Dec. 17, about 50 of these "displaced Mainers" are waiting.

The first year of the wreath laying in 1993, special permission was granted to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Nearby is the memorial to those who died when the battleship Maine was sunk in Havana Harbor in 1898. A wreath is placed there too.

Morrill Worcester said that he and his Maine workers are proud to recognize America's war heroes in this way.

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Dorothy Copus Brush is a Fairfield Glade resident and Crossville Chronicle staffwriter whose column is published each Wednesday.