This article highlights Wreaths Across America’s annual mission to remember, honor, and teach through nationwide wreath-laying ceremonies, reports on this year’s participation and locations, preserves key quotes and figures, and explains practical ways people can support the cause.
This Christmas season brought focus to the idea of freedom as a gift, with National Wreaths Across America Day observed on Saturday, December 13. The program, founded in 1992, mobilizes volunteers and sponsors to place wreaths on graves and memorials to honor veterans who served and sacrificed. Across the country, communities of all sizes gathered to take part in the tradition and to pass on the lessons of service to younger generations. The effort centers on three principles: Remember, Honor, and Teach.
On the national day, more than two million wreaths were placed in local, national, and military cemeteries as well as at memorials and historic sites. Arlington National Cemetery, where the tradition began in the organization’s first year, remains a focal point and reported a record for Family Pass Holder Day attendance. Families with pass privileges still get that special opportunity to lay wreaths a day ahead of the national observance.
Wreath-laying ceremonies extended to over 5,200 locations across all 50 states and reached some of the 26 military cemeteries overseas. Local posts and veteran groups organized events tailored to their communities, from large national cemeteries to neighborhood parks where veterans without individual graves received recognition. These small ceremonies often included local Scouts, family members, and volunteers helping to place wreaths and explain the meaning behind the tradition.
One such local effort came from American Legion Post 642 in Cupertino, which marked a decade of sponsoring a ceremony at Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Los Altos. In his tenth and final year organizing the event, Post 642 member Dennis “The Menace” Whittaker coordinated city officials, Scouting units, and volunteers to place more than 1,100 wreaths. Whittaker, a former combat infantry platoon leader in Vietnam, emphasized the dual goals of remembrance and education, noting the need to pass on the story of service. District 13 Commander Richard Peralez of American Legion Post 419 also joined volunteers in laying wreaths to honor the fallen.
As part of the National Wreaths Across America celebration on Saturday, Dec. 13, American Legion Post 642 in Cupertino, Calif., sponsored a wreath-laying ceremony at Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Los Altos for the 10th consecutive year.
In his 10th and final year organizing the event, Post 642 member Dennis “The Menace” Whittaker – who once served as a combat infantry platoon leader in Vietnam – coordinated efforts between the post, city officials and local Scouting units to place more than 1,100 wreaths. Whittaker emphasized the importance of remembrance and education, stating, “We need to honor and teach why we are here today.” District 13 Commander Richard Peralez of American Legion Post 419 in Santa Clara also participated in the ceremony, joining volunteers in laying wreaths to honor the fallen.
Farther south, communities in Augusta, Georgia, gathered across multiple sites to place wreaths and teach local residents about the cost of freedom. Volunteers at cemeteries and parks placed wreaths representing the six branches of the armed forces for those without individual graves. Local leaders stressed that live wreaths serve as a visible tribute to those who served and as a reminder that liberty carries a price paid by others.
On the East Coast, the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville saw participation from service members and hundreds of volunteers who placed thousands of balsam wreaths. Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, and members of other branches joined local volunteers to cover 17,000 gravesites at that cemetery alone. These coordinated efforts blended active-duty participation with civilian commitment, reinforcing the cross-generational nature of the observance.
“Each wreath we place is more than evergreen and ribbon,” said Air National Guard Colonel Steven Slosek, commander of the 109th Airlift Wing. “It is our visible promise that those who serve will never be forgotten.”
A central ritual at these ceremonies is the reading of names aloud, a simple but powerful act meant to keep each service member’s memory alive. Wreaths Across America provides guidance for people who want to participate directly or support from afar, including sponsorship of wreaths for veterans who may not have family to remember them. Sponsoring a wreath ensures a veteran in need receives recognition through the organization’s placement program.
Volunteering options vary from laying wreaths at a ceremony to coordinating sponsorship groups or organizing local events, allowing people to match their skills and schedules to meaningful roles. The organization also emphasizes teaching service and sacrifice to youth, offering education resources and a Mobile Education Exhibit designed to share stories of patriotism with students. These programs aim to cultivate respect for service across generations and keep the lessons of sacrifice tangible.
The next National Wreaths Across America Day is scheduled for Saturday, December 19, 2026, giving people time to plan wreath sponsorships or find local ceremonies to join. Whether through sponsoring wreaths, volunteering at events, or helping to teach young people, communities can participate in honoring veterans and reinforcing the message that freedom has been defended at great cost. Merry Christmas!
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