TRAVELING ABOUT as far northeast as roads will lead you, lies a quaint fishing and farming town known as Harrington, Maine. Years ago, a 12-year-old boy hailing from the town went on a trip of a lifetime to our nation’s capital. During his visit, the impressionable young boy went to Arlington National Cemetery. Seeing the infinite sea of headstones was an experience that marked him. Consequently, it made him more aware and appreciative of veterans who had made the ultimate sacrifice for their country — his country.
Years later, back in his quiet corner of the world in Harrington, there were thousands of acres of balsam trees. The young boy, now a man, began using those resources most prevalent to him, balsam trees. He became a very successful businessman after founding a handcrafted wreath company. The man’s name is Morrill Worcester of Worcester Wreath Company. A simple act of honor made by Worcester himself in 1992, is still making significant ripples across our nation decades later.
The initial pebble into the pond moment happened at the end of the winter holiday season in 1992. Worcester Wreath had a surplus of fresh balsam wreaths in inventory that remained unsold and unclaimed. Worcester, remembering his experience at Arlington as a young boy, recognized what a chance he had to honor our country’s veterans. Quickly and with the help of many volunteers, businesses, organizations, and elected officials, the wreaths were taken to Arlington by the truckloads. Soon, every wreath donated was placed on the graves of fallen heroes in Virginia. Though their hearts had stopped beating long ago, their legacies and contributions live on. The rich smell of the balsam needles filled the air and acted as a reminder of that.
The tender tribute of Worcester became an annual occurrence. His company, Worcester Wreath, and the small army of people that made the first year’s wreath-laying possible, coordinated to make the same trip to the nation’s capital over the next few years. Each year the small army grew. However, in 2005 a photo of the Arlington grave markers adorned with wreaths, red ribbons, and a fresh dusting of snow went viral. Almost overnight, the heartfelt action of one man inspired thousands of people from all over the country. Requests came pouring in with people wanting to help at Arlington or reproduce the Arlington wreath project at their local cemeteries. Very quickly, it became apparent that the desire to remember and honor fallen heroes was bigger than what the Worcester Wreath Company could maintain themselves.
Thus, According to Wreaths Across America’s official story, “In 2007 the Worcester family, along with veterans and other groups and individuals who had helped with their annual veterans’ wreath ceremony in Arlington, formed Wreaths Across America, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, to continue and expand the effort and support other groups around the country who wanted to do the same. The mission of the group is simple: Remember. Honor. Teach.”
The mission of Wreaths Across America came rippling into our local community when a small group of friends gathered together and in agreement, said, “Let’s do this here locally.” That group consisted of one of our own Vietnam Veterans, Claude Morse and his wife, Bobbie, Ron and Cyndi Clower of Clower’s Automotive in Manchester, and Dr. Linda Walden. Together, they teamed up to figure out what it would take to bring Wreaths Across America to our small towns in Tennessee.
The group jumped right in. They formed a local committee which later became the
Coffee County Tennessee Wreaths Across America Committee operating under the 501(c)(3) nonprofit of the national wreaths Across America organization. Next, they chose a few cemeteries to begin the process of identifying military graves. Morse shared, “We had to identify and count the military graves before fundraising for wreaths. So we went to the city and got whatever records we could. Then, we got permission from the city to walk the cemeteries. As we walked, we used a software called “Find A Grave.” As we found each veteran’s grave, we would geotag its location in that software.” This process made it much easier to find the graves again. In addition to the geotag, the team placed a tiny American Flag on a wire stand at each veteran’s grave in early December, making it easier for volunteers to identify military graves on the actual ceremony day. Then, they began networking within the community to gather sponsorships for wreaths. Morse shared the “why” behind all of his volunteer work. He said, “I appreciate all of those who served, and I want to keep their memory alive.”
In the first year, the group organized ceremonies at four local locations: Coffee County Veterans Memorial in Manchester, Hurricane Grove Cemetery in rural Coffee County, and Oakwood and Citizens Cemetery in Tullahoma. Then, after the short ceremonies, groups of volunteers helped honorably adorn a little over 300 military graves with the red-ribbon wreaths. The ceremonies took place on the same day and time as Arlington’s wreath-laying ceremony, usually held on the second or third Saturday each December.
Wreaths Across America would not be successful without volunteers who have bought into the mission: to remember the men and women who served our country, honor our military and their families, and teach our children about our freedom and those who protect it. As a
member of the board of directors of the Coffee County Tennessee Wreaths Across America Committee, Morse shared his most profound gratitude for the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps of Tullahoma High, Coffee County Central High School, and Warren County High
School, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Trail Life Scouts, Christian Motorcycle Riders Group, the local VFW and American Legion members, and many elected officials for volunteering their time for this great cause. He also wanted to give special thanks to Manchester Fire Department
Captain Emmett Wright, Ron Clower and his employees at Clower Automotive, Coffee County Trustee John Marchesoni, and Vietnam veteran Doyle Reeves for the hundreds of hours they have volunteered to get wreaths to the cemeteries, help run the ceremonies, and then clean the cemeteries in January.
2022 will be the fifth year of locally placing wreaths on veteran graves. Morse shared, “We anticipate placing more than 1,200 wreaths on military graves and war memorials at 15 different locations. We are looking for others to take on responsibility for covering military graves in more local cemeteries.”
