A newsletter from the Wreaths Across America organization.
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Keep Moving Forward
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Tag Archives: Wreaths Across America
Keep Moving Forward: Wreaths Across America’s 2025 Theme
A notice from the Wreaths Across America organization.
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Dear Michael Barbour, On behalf of the Wreaths Across America organization and our family of volunteers and supporters, I want to thank YOU for supporting the mission to Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach the next generation the value of freedom.
Together, we honored just over THREE million service members at 4,909 participating locations nationwide with the help of 7,566 sponsorship groups. Of these, 784 are new locations this year, with 353 ceremony-only locations and 4,556 locations placing sponsored wreaths. At Arlington National Cemetery, where this all began, more than 260,000 veterans’ wreaths were placed by 32,000 volunteers on a truly gorgeous day.
I have been reflecting on this year’s theme—Live with Purpose—and I hope each of you will carry it forward as a mindset in your daily lives. Throughout 2024, we learned stories of those living with purpose and focusing on service attributes, as described in the poem my husband Morrill wrote all those years ago for Gold Star parents, Mary and Lloyd Byers. |
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This poem describes the attributes that make up a veteran’s wreath (and those who serve our country) that inspired the 2024 theme. It is only fitting that the theme for 2025 should reflect this same spirit, a call to action for our volunteers and supporters in the communities they serve. Mary and Lloyd’s son, Captain Joshua Byers, was the Company Commander of Fox Troop in the 2/3ACR service in Iraq in 2003 when an IED struck his Humvee. As the smoke filled the air, Josh gave a last command to his driver to “Keep Moving Forward.” Though Josh didn’t make it home, this command saved lives and became a battle cry for his unit and family.
I am proud to announce this as the theme for 2025. There will always be challenges to overcome as individuals, communities and a country, but we must keep moving forward together. We look forward to sharing not only the Byers’ story of resilience but so many others who continue to live with purpose every day, and keep moving forward.
Thank you all for taking the time during this busy season to join us in letting veterans and military families know that their service and sacrifice are both seen and appreciated and that they are not alone in their loss.
With gratitude, |
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Share Your Wreaths Day Photos! |
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We want to see your photos from National Wreaths Across America Day!
Click on the link below to share your photos. |
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Matching Campaign |
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Through Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 – all wreaths sponsored through a registered WAA Sponsorship Group will be matched by HQ for placement on next year’s National Wreaths Across America Day – Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025! |
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Visit the Mobile Education Exhibit in January |
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In January, the Mobile Education Exhibit will make several stops in Arizona!
Click here to learn more about the Mobile Education Exhibit or submit a request for it to come to your community in 2025. |
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Featured Merchandise |
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Add our new American flag Camouflage Hat to your collection!
It has the American flag on the brim and the Wreaths Across America logo on a genuine leather patch. |
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Make sure to follow Wreaths Across America official channels on social media for the most up-to-the-minute news on the mission throughout the year: |
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| Wreaths Across America, PO Box 249, Columbia Falls, ME 04623, United States, 877-385-9504 |
Thank You For Moving The Mission Michael Barbour!
An update from the Wreaths Across America organization.
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Hello Michael Barbour,
Thank you to all the professional drivers, owner-operators, carriers, and logistics partners, who stepped up this year to make National Wreaths Across America Day 2024 a HUGE success! Your support is why we were able to move the mission to a record 4,900+ participating locations this year.
Here are the load stats for how we made that happen:
The WAA Transportation Team and all our volunteers across the country know how lucky we are to have the best of the best representing our industry through this important mission.
We wish you all a happy and restful holiday season and look forward to working with you again next year – National Wreaths Across America Day 2025 is Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.
Remember – Honor – Teach With gratitude, |
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Trucking TuesdaysListen to Trucking Tributes every Trucking Tuesday on Wreaths Across America Radio. If you have a story you’d like to share, click on the button below to schedule an interview. |
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Share Your Photos from Wreaths Across America Day |
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We would love to see your pictures from the road! Please submit content for sharing on our Memory Fox Campaign page by clicking on the button below. |
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Stay in the KnowThe Moving the Mission Facebook Group is a space for supporters of Wreaths Across America working in the transportation industry to connect with and learn from one another. Members will share their stories of support, learn more about Wreaths Across America, including volunteer opportunities, and network with other industry professionals. |
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A message from Prince Jordan concerning CAPNSF – San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco
A message from the event this past weekend.
Dear Michael Barbour:
Thank you for Sponsoring Wreaths and/or Volunteering for National Wreaths Across America Day! CAPNSF – San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco, and I am writing with more information about our ceremony scheduled for December 13, 2025.
***THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE***
Heartfelt Thanks and Exciting Transition at Wreaths Across America San Francisco
Dear Participants and Sponsors,
I hope this message finds you well and filled with the joy of the holiday season. I am writing to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who braved the extreme elements of the weather to join us for this year’s Wreaths Across America event at the San Francisco National Cemetery last Saturday. Your participation and support are the lifeblood of this meaningful event, ensuring that we continue to honor our fallen servicemen and women with the reverence they deserve.
A special thank you extends to our dedicated sponsors and participants whose commitment remained unwavering in spite of the challenging weather. Your presence under such extraordinary conditions was both inspiring and deeply appreciated.
As I share this message, it comes with mixed emotions as I announce my departure from my role as Event Director and Location Coordinator for Wreaths Across America San Francisco. After much reflection, I have decided to direct my efforts towards broader initiatives supporting veterans and military families. Serving in this role has been an incredible journey, and I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together. When I assumed this position, my vision was to enhance our community’s support for veterans and their families while preserving the cherished tradition of remembrance. I am thrilled to report that our efforts have led to a significant increase in participation, with over 430+ community members attending this year—double the number from three years ago!
Looking ahead, I am delighted to introduce Hanley Chan, who will step into the role of Event Director & Location Coordinator from 2025 onward. For any inquiries about future events and next year’s ceremony, please feel free to reach out to Hanley at Hanleychan@icloud.com. His collaboration with the American Legion Salesian Post 599 promises to continue our tradition of honoring our heroes. Please join Hanley along with the other volunteers on January 4th 2025 at San Francisco National Cemetery at 11:00 AM for the Wreath Clean Up Day.
Though I am stepping down, my dedication to supporting veterans and military families endures. For any other matters outside of Wreaths Across America, I welcome you to contact me at Pkmbenz@gmail.com.
Thank you once again for your unwavering support and for making this year’s event a resounding success. I wish you all a safe and joyous holiday season, and may 2025 bring you prosperity, success, and happiness.
Warm regards,
Prince Jordan
Former Event Director & Location Coordinator ’22, ’23, ’24
CAPNSF – San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco
Thank you very much for supporting CAPNSF – San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco. Please click More Information to learn more about our mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach.
Wreaths Across America 2024: San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio
REMEMBER the Fallen. . . HONOR those who Serve. . . TEACH our children the value of Freedom.
Earlier today members of Branch 25 attended the annual Wreaths Across America event at the San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio. Below are some pictures that members took, as well as some we found online, and some video from the event.
Royal Canadian Legion, US Branch #25 