What is Wreaths Across America?

In 1992 Maine wreath maker Morrill Worcester had a surplus of wreaths. He decided he wanted to have these wreaths placed on graves at Arlington National Cemetery in areas that received fewer visitors each year. Several volunteers stepped up to help, including Veterans from American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts and a truck company owner who transported the wreaths to Arlington, Virginia, where a small ceremony was held at the cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This remained a small yearly tradition for nearly 15 years until the photo below taken at the 2005 ceremony went viral. Almost immediately, thousands of people wanted to know how to help or how they could begin a similar tradition in their states. In 2024 over 3 million Veterans’ wreaths were placed in total across the country at 4909 participating locations. We encourage everyone to visit their website. https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/About/OurMission

Governor Jared Irwin Chapter NSDAR Wreaths Across America

In 2022 Governor Jared Irwin Chapter NSDAR began Wreaths Across America in Washington County. In their first year over 225 wreaths were placed on graves of Veterans in Washington and surrounding counties. Sandersville Old City Cemetery was the only registered location that year.

Fast forward to 2025 and over 1000 wreaths were placed at Veterans graves in Washington and surrounding counties. The one location of Sandersville Old City Cemetery as grown to 23 registered cemetery locations and two churches recognizing Veterans who are/were members of their churches.

The truck below delivered our wreaths in 2022, our first year. Words cannot describe the feelings we all had when the truck pulled up. We did not know what to expect, it being our first year, but this was very emotional.

Our delivery men were two veterans who donated their time to drive to Maine to pick up their load of wreaths and deliver them in Georgia. The trucking companies donate the use of their trucks to deliver wreaths all over the United States.

Participating locations in 2025

Forest Grove Cemetery has been a registered location since 2023. Only four Veterans are buried here, all serving in the Civil War. The gallery shows those four graves.

Ten veterans are buried in John Sparks Cemetery, including Private John Sparks who served in Jackson Company, 1st Regiment of the South Carolina Infantry during the Revolutionary. Rob Mathis, ancestor of Private John Sparks is shown at the entrance to John Sparks Cemetery.

New Bethel Baptist Church joined the Wreaths Across America Project in 2023. This year for their ceremony they made wooden crosses for each veteran buried there. This was in addition to the wreaths that were placed.

At Sandersville Old City Cemetery 137 wreaths were laid at Veterans graves on Saturday, December 13 following the county wide ceremony.

Piney Mount Church Cemetery became a registered location in 2024. Thank you Piney Mount for your support of Wreaths Across America. Shared with you are some pictures from their wreath laying ceremony.

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church has participated since 2022, but did not become an “Officially” registered location until 2023. Thank you Pleasant Grove for your support of Wreaths Across America. Below are pictures shared from their first ceremony in 2022 and their 2025 ceremony.

Riddleville City/Baptist Church Cemetery honored Veterans in their cemeteries this year. Drone footage shows wreaths placed on Veterans graves.

Each year prior to the wreath laying ceremony, locations place flags at the graves of the Veterans that will have a wreath placed at their grave. This identifies the graves where wreaths are to be placed. These pictures are from Sandersville Old City Cemetery this year prior to the wreath laying. (photos by Kayla Jackson)