Special Night Last Night (Freeport, Washington: home, live, trailer)

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Last night was the night that a bunch of Mainers worked all night to place red ribbons on the last of the wreaths that will go to Arlington National Cemetary. The boxes are loaded, seven wreaths to a box, and the truck is stuffed full. This all began six years ago when Morrill Worcester of Worcester wreath company had some left over wreaths at the end of the season. He called down and asked how many Mainers were buried at Arlington. He sent down the wreaths and the Maine Society in Washington placed the wreaths. They were scattered widely, but some were bunched together like Joshua Caimberlain's men from Little Round top and those who served in the Yankee Division together in WWI. I was blown away when I heard about it.

The next year I checked to see when it would happen and I brought the donuts in the morning at sunrise. A Maine trucker hauled the wreaths down and there were more the second year. This has grown each year as it became more well known. The few visitors who actually visit Arlington in December were stunned by those wreaths placed seemingly at random and asked how they all appeared so suddenly.

Last year when the truck left Cherryfield it followed Route 1 all the way. The truck was freshly painted with wreaths on the trailer. It pulled out after midnight. People came out to wave as it went by. In Freeport, people came out at 4 AM and lined Route 1 all the way through town with candles in plastic cups. The drivers never bought a meal all the way to Washington.

This year's truck pulled out this morning. Now will take a week to get to DC going down Route 1. Next Saturday on the 15th the Maine Society will be there to place the wreaths, but they will be joined by many people who are moved by what Mainers have done. There will be Maine wreaths in veterans cemetaries in all 50 states this year. It all started because Morrill Worcester was so moved when he was in the 8th grade and visited Arlington with his class from Cherryfield, Maine.

Thanks Morrill, from a veteran.

[mainebrokerman]

northern, what a heart-warming story, something like this should be on the news. most mainers havent heard of this. thank you for posting this!!

[Elcarim]

Well, I'm all teary-eyed now just thinking about the streets lined with people watching the big truck go by........next year I'll be one of them!

[7th generation]

Now that is a true "Maine story!" Thanks for sharing NMLM and God Bless the Troops!!

[msina]

I'm at a loss for words, (unusual). Maine people seem to care about our troops more than average, every member of the Armed Services coming home through BIA is greeted by a homecoming commitee that volunteers to be there. You're all very special.

[BacktoNE]

Goose bumps. I've heard the story a few times since reading about it in DownEast magazine, and it still gives me goosebumps. Arlington looks so beautiful with those wreaths in place. It really should be brought to national attention.

[contented]

i cant't imagine anything more fitting............

[Northern Maine Land Man]

I didn't proof my post well enough. I left out the 'h' in Chamberlain and it is the 16th year, not the 6th. They have a web site now.

Maine Remembrance Wreaths Decorate Veterans Cemeteries


YouTube - Arlington Silent Night

[mollysmiles]

Michael's (my 16 year old) Civil Air Patrol squadron is one of the escorts of the caravan, and they will lay wreaths in Arlington as well. Last year this made national news, and CBS's The Early Show did some live broadcasts, as well as spots on the Evening News. Michael came back last year an entirely different kid. He still can't talk about it without tearing up.

[mollysmiles]

Convoy of wreaths bound for Arlington (http://bangornews.com/news/t/downeast.aspx?articleid=157546&zoneid=177 - broken link)