World's Longest Christmas Parade
We have joined with Wreaths Across America as a participating sponsor, and for every 2 wreaths you donate, a 3rd will be added. You can specify which of the participating cemeteries you'd like your wreath to decorate, although not the particular grave. The veterans parade will leave Harrington on Sunday, December 7 (Pearl Harbor Day), 2008, and will make numerous 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 12. There, a local fire station will help wash the road grime off the trucks before they make their way to Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday. The wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. (EST) on Saturday, December 13, ending with a nation-wide ceremony and simultaneous Moment of Remembrance across the country at 12:00 Noon (EST). Schedule of Events at Arlington
Wreaths will also be donated for a special wreath-laying ceremony at each State Capital and a 36" ceremonial wreath for our Nation's Capital. In addition, ceremonial wreaths representing all branches of the armed forces will be sent to more than 350 other state and national veterans cemeteries across the Country. For the first time in 2007, ceremonial wreaths were also 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. Last year, the company doubled its donation to provide 10,000 wreaths. The company also covers the trucking costs to transport the wreaths to Arlington, and this year, trucking companies wishing to donate their services can find more information here. 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. 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, check the 2008 wreath escort itinerary. 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.  Please, use the "add this" button in the right-hand column or the buttons across the bottom of the page to share this article, and/or Return to top of World's Longest Christmas Parade. |
This year, you have the opportunity to 
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Blue Angels:
How Do They
Do That?
Climb into the cockpit
with former
Flight Leader
Hoss Pearson
to discover the
Mysteries of the
Blue Angels