Press Release
Saturday, December 19, 2020, is National Wreaths Across America Day
Local Volunteers who Coordinate the Program at Ludlow’s Island Pond Cemetery are Finalizing Modified Plans for the Wreath Laying Event to Take Place Safely as Scheduled
Ludlow, MA — December 8, 2020 — Local, volunteers supporting Wreaths Across America at Island Pond Cemetery have been working hard to ensure that the service members buried there will indeed be honored again this year with the placement of live, balsam Veterans’ wreaths, as part of National Wreaths Across America Day 2020.
With much help from local businesses, support groups and the community we have been able to sponsor enough wreaths to Honor and Remember all of Ludlow’s fallen Heroes!
This year, the ceremonies that are held across the country at more than 2,200 participating locations, may look a little different as the national nonprofit is making every effort to meet CDC recommended safety guidelines while also adhering to state, local, and cemetery safety measures that have been implemented due to COVID-19.
At Ludlow’s Island Pond Cemetery the following modifications have been made to maintain safety and to ensure all guidelines are met:
| DEC 15th & 16th | (Tues & Wed) | FAMILY MEMBERS ONLY 9:30am – 11:30am & 1:00pm – 3:00pm |
| DEC 17th | (Thur) | SELECT VETERAN & SCOUT GROUPS |
| DEC 17th & 18th | (Thur & Fri) | LARGE DONATION SPONSORS |
| DEC 19th | (Sat) | CEREMONY to be Broadcast on LCTV, WAA & Local Social Media Pages |
“It is important that during challenging times we all take a moment to remember those who have met and overcome challenges – like our nation’s military and their families – and show unity in our American spirit while we work together in an effort to march forward in the face of what seems to be insurmountable odds,” said Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America. “We are so grateful to the good people of this great nation for participating in the mission to Remember, Honor and Teach.”
National Wreaths Across America Day is a free, non-political event, that is usually open to all people, but this year each individual location will be abiding by all local and state safety guidelines and rules set forth by the participating cemetery locations, at which Wreaths Across America is a guest.
To sponsor a wreath for next year and stay informed about event details, we encourage you to visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/MA0065
Wreaths Across America is the non-profit organization best known for placing veterans’ wreaths on the headstones of our nation’s fallen at Arlington National Cemetery. However, the organization, in total, places more than 2.2 million sponsored wreaths at over 2200 participating locations nationwide and offers other programs throughout the calendar year, including The Mobile Education Exhibit , Wreaths Across America Radio, and the Wreaths Across America Virtual Concert now streaming on Showcase NOW).
About Wreaths Across America:
Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.
This year’s Wreaths Across America Day is December 19th, 2020. For more information or to sponsor a wreath, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
Press contacts:
Brenda Shields-Dean & Heide Blackak
c/o Capital Driver Leasing, LLC
Island Pond Cemetery Location Coordinators
Sean Sullivan
Wreaths Across America