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(Continued from page 14) across the sea of white marble tombstones. “The enormity of it all hit me right then," Worcester says. "It stuck with me, just how very, very lucky we (Americans) are." To get things started, he called a friend, who donated a tractor-trailer to transport tlx- wreaths, aixl then got tlx- OK from officials at the cemetery to adorn the graves with the wreaths. With the help of a dozen friends, Worcester donated 5,0(X) wreaths that were laid on the lx-adstones during a six-hour periixl in December 1992. It was the beginning of what is now known as the Arlington Wreath Project. A growing effort As word spread about Worcester's efforts, more and mon volunteers arrived in Arlington each year to help. In 2006, mon- than I ,(KX) volunteers completed the wreath-laying efforts in less than an hair. But tlx- wreaths aren’t laid in haste. Each volunteer takes time to read tlx name on the stone. Some kneel and pray. Some talk, aixl many weep. Volunteers always stand and turn to pay respect when a horse-drawn funeral pnxession brings another fallen hero home to rest. Tlx-y watch until rlx sound of liorse htxives fades in tlx- distance before returning to their wreaths. Jlk.lv' Gibbons of McGlean, Va., hies volunteered for tlx last three years. Because her father, brother, husband aixl son were all military nxn, she believes its only fitting. "Is there anything more important hap|x-ning in Washington (D.C.) today?" asks Gibbons, who appreciates the dedication Worcester has to hoaxing deceased soldiers. "And don’t bother sending Morrill money for the proj ect," (iibbons adds, "you II only cost him money in postage because he'll seal it right back. So if yai want to help, you have to come exit and lxlp." Each year a section of the 624-acre cemetery that doesn't get many visitors is chosen to receive the wreatlis. Even within the section, volunteer Hannah Groalin, 11, of Skowlxgan, Maiix (pop 6,696), Irxiks tor someone special. “I put my wreaths on unknown soldiers," says Hannah, a secoal-year volunteer. “I think how lonely they must be because no ax comes to visit and how sad their family must be ax knowing whether they're alive or dead." Hannah is part of teacher Larry Ross's fifth- and sixth grade gifted classes at the Margaret Chase Smith School in Skowhegan. Ross has been bringing 40 students with him to help lay wreaths each year since 2003. But before he seals them out, Ross hokls up a photograph of Mor rill Worcester as a 12-year-okl |ia|x‘rboy aixl says to his students, "Fair words. That's all it will take to be great. ll Sinnat(Jiinlilv it Value ’y Ihi'Hrs/ j Ug flpBS HOMI VtMC K 9 j£j ■*3 -«p^ H3-’- .' S H vAlnpl/ B>|' ' Fair words: Sit um: 6c time. See great things. Go out and do great things." Wreaths Across America Worcester received so many e-mails from people across the nation asking him to do something at national cem eteries in their hometowns that last year his otganization unveiled Wreaths Across America. During tlx Arlingtai wreath laying ceremony, with lxlp fnxn the Civil Air Patrol aral other civic-minded groups, special ceremonies were hekl at 2.30 state and national cemeteries aral veterans monuments across the camtry. At the Biloxi National Cemetery in Mississippi, the ceremonies iixluded a px-ayer •V K* Or 19 I ul f* Students from Skowhegan, Maine, adorn soldiers’ graves with holiday wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery. Special Offer: SAVE S3O on THE WAR on 6 DVDs An event that “touched the lives of every family on every street in every town in America." This is The War. You’ll see Anzio, Omaha Beach, Guadalcanal, Okinawa and so much more in this incredible 14-hour documentary. Now ONLY $99 through American Profile - was $129.98. LAST CHANCE— Order by 12/10/07 for Christmas delivery. Please visit AmericanProfile.com/store or have your credit card ready and call (800) 715-6248 and receive The War for $99 + $6.97 s&h. Expires 12/10/07. CA, TN, IL, MO, NY residents ask! state sales tax. NSF checks debited for amount of check plus tees. Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. WAR 2 A 747 and moment of silence, while at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Braime (pops. 1,443), volunteers carefully laid 1(H) wreaths on gravestones. In Plxxnix, tlx Civil Air Patrol organized a ceremony at tlx- National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. A bugler sig naled tlx opxning of the ceremony by (slaying the national anthem, followed by a moment of silence aral tlx- (slating of five wreaths, each repsresenting a lsma ll of military service, next to their respxctive flags. Waytx- Ellis, the cemetery’s director, says that his deci sion to |xirticipxite in tlx- Wreaths Across America pxoject was an easy one. “It's a gtxxl |xtsgram,” Ellis says. “It Ixlpss horasr air veterans, ami it brings |xiblic attentitxi to facili ties like these.” At the same time the Phoenix ceremony took place, nearly 80 ju-ople gathered at the Kansas Vet erans' Cemetery in WaKeeney ([sops. 1,924) to lay 60 wreaths on gravestones. "About 40 families of buried veterans here were present," says Heidi Goff, the cemetery's manager. "When I learned of the project, I asked Christ the King Catholic Church to help raise funds to buy wreaths for every veteran laid to rest here. More money than we actually needed was raised, so that money will carry over for next year." Goff says she was deeply moved watching family members lay the wreaths on the veterans' graves. "It’s such a beautiful, visual tribute," she says. "It brings our veterans to the forefront." And that's exactly who Worcester wants in the spxxlight. "I’m no txx special," Worcester says. “It just makes me feel spxcial to be allowed to be part of something at Arling ton. The soldiers resting there, our soldiers today—they are the spxcial people. They are the heroes.” Tracy Leinlterger-Leonan/i is a writer in Elktnn. Alt/. Visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org to learn more.