World's Longest Christmas Parade

In what must surely be the World's Longest Christmas Parade, the Patriot Guard Riders, in a caravan of between 50 and 300 vehicles (depending on weather) will once again escort Christmas wreaths donated by Worcester Wreath Company from Harrington, Maine, to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

The veterans parade left Harrington on Sunday, December 9, 2007, and will make more than twenty stops along the way, presenting wreaths at various schools, hospitals and veterans organizations, and participating in some local parades as well. They will make their way down US 1, arriving in the Washington, DC, area on Friday evening, December 14.

The wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. (EST) on Saturday, December 15, ending with a nation-wide ceremony and Moment of Remembrance at 12:00 Noon (EST).

On Monday, December 10th, 51 wreaths will be donated for a special wreath-laying ceremony at each State Capital and a 36" ceremonial wreath for our Nation's Capital. In addition, Worcester Wreath Company is donating 2,500 wreaths to the Maine Veterans Cemetery, and more than 1,800 ceremonial wreaths, representing all branches of the armed forces, will be sent to more than 200 other state and national veterans cemeteries across the Country.

For the first time in 2007, ceremonial wreaths will also be donated to 24 veterans cemeteries on foreign soil, and aboard U.S. ships sailing in all seven seas.

This tradition began in 1992 when Merrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company, donated 5,000 wreaths to be placed on graves at Arlington for Christmas. The gesture has been repeated each year, and this year, the company doubled its donation to provide 10,000 wreaths. The company also covers the trucking costs to transport the wreaths to Arlington.

In response to citizen requests to participate in the project, the non-profit Wreaths Across America was formed to coordinate volunteers and related activities nationwide. There will be concurrent wreath-laying ceremonies in veterans cemeteries across the country on Saturday. You may click on the link to find the veterans cemetery nearest you, along with the local coordinator's name and phone number for additional information.

If you happen to live near the "parade route" and would like to participate as the wreaths pass through your area, you'll find the planned itinerary here. You'll also find there a link to the escort's current location thanks to GPS technology.

If you have any questions regarding this year's wreath escort or how you might participate in this project, you may contact Wreaths Across America HQ.

2007 Ceremony Update.

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