The American Legion Auxiliary Manuel M. Lopes Unit 240 is calling on the community to honor and remember local veterans this holiday season by participating in the Wreaths Across America program. This initiative provides an opportunity for individuals and families to sponsor a wreath for placement on the graves of veterans, showing gratitude and respect for their service.

The wreath-laying ceremonies will take place on Dec. 14 at two local cemeteries: Hills Ferry Cemetery in Newman and San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella. Community members can sponsor a wreath for $17, which will be placed at one or both of these locations, allowing families to pay tribute to their loved ones who served.

To order a wreath, participants are encouraged to use the unique sponsorship code CA0862P by visiting www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. The deadline for online orders is Nov. 29 ensuring that all wreaths arrive in time for the remembrance events.

Local residents preferring to place orders in person can contact Audrey McIntyre, President of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 240, at (209) 854-6094 or via email at lestweforget@att.net.

Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, was a 12-year old paper boy when he won a trip to Washington D.C. It was his first to our nation’s capital and one that would change the trajectory of his life and the lives of millions of others across the country. Seeing the hundreds of thousands of graves and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery made an especially indelible impression on him. It was to be an experience that would follow him throughout his life and successful career, reminding him that his good fortune was due, in large part, to the values of his nation and the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

In 1992, Worcester Wreath found themselves with a surplus of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. Remembering his boyhood experience at Arlington, Worcester realized he had an opportunity to honor our country’s veterans. With the aid of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe (ret), arrangements were made for the surplus wreaths to be placed at Arlington in one of the older cemetery sections that had been receiving fewer visitors each passing year.

As plans were underway to transport the wreaths to Washington, a number of other individuals and organizations stepped up to help. James Prout, owner of local trucking company Blue Bird Ranch, Inc., generously provided transportation all the way to Virginia. Volunteers from the local American Legion and VFW Posts gathered with members of the community to decorate each wreath with traditional red, hand-tied bows. Members of the Maine State Society of Washington D.C., helped to organize the wreath-laying, which included a special ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

This year’s participation in Wreaths Across America reflects the Auxiliary’s commitment to honoring local veterans. Community members are encouraged to get involved, share stories of their veteran family members, and attend the ceremonies to show collective gratitude.