Sunday, December 5, 2010

Wreaths Across America

2010 will mark the 19th anniversary of Worcester Wreath Company donating Maine wreaths to adorn the headstones of our Nation’s veterans at Arlington National Cemetery. In addition to 15,000 wreaths destined for Virginia, Worcester Wreath will again donate 7 ceremonial wreaths to over 410 State, National and local cemeteries across the Country. In 2009 wreath-laying ceremonies were coordinated in 24 foreign cemeteries and aboard Naval ships in all Seven Seas, this tradition continues into 2010.
In response to the many voices who wanted to share in the project, the non-profit Wreaths Across America organization was formed (EIN: 20-8362270) to expand the program by offering supporters the opportunity to sponsor a wreath. Our goal is to one day see every veterans grave in the country covered to honor every veteran during the holidays. In 2008 we expanded once again to give even more organizations the chance to help bring our goal to fruition by providing the opportunity to fund raise for their organizations needs along with helping Wreaths Across America gather sponsorships for wreaths.
Sponsorships are $15 each. Proceeds place a wreath at one of the participating cemeteries, help support our fundraising partners, educational and veterans services outreach. Please note that all sponsorships are sent directly to the location and no wreaths are sent to the individuals purchasing sponsorships.

There is no stipulation for participation in these activities. We welcome all to join us at Wreaths Across America as the organization was formed to promote and coordinate sponsorship of wreaths for the other national, state and local cemeteries that have shown a desire to emulate the Arlington wreath-laying event. If you would like to participate or help bring sponsored wreaths to your local community, please contact us and we will help connect you with other groups already working in your area.
Schedule of Events
Sunday, December 5th, 2010
Start of World’s Longest Veterans Parade from Maine to participating locations all across the Country
Monday, December 6th
State House wreath-laying ceremonies in all 50 States and Puerto Rico
Saturday December 11th, 12:00 noon (EST)
Simultaneous wreath laying ceremonies at over 350 locations all across the World.
For more information visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org, or call 877-385-9504.
You can also email Marcy@wreathsacrossamerica.org, Amy@waa08@yahoo.com or Wayne@wreathsacrossamerica.org
I ran across this program while researching Arlington at Christmas...
there is still time...
$15 a wreath or to attend an event near you...
Please check out their website...
their mission:

REMEMBER
HONOR
TEACH

OR YOU CAN FIND A LOCAL GRAVE THAT IS NO LONGER DECORATED AND LAY A WREATH THERE IN MEMORY OF ALL WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR ALL.

WE SHOULD ALL BE ON OUR KNEES IF WE HAVE NOT BEEN ASKED TO SACRIFICE...

For Austin and his family...



December 7th, 1941...

a simple brownie camera held these photos for many years...
to be discovered in a foot locker not long ago...
Pearl Harbor was attacked...
President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaiming December 7, 1941 "a date which will live in infamy"... 
188 US Aircraft were destroyed...
1282 personel were injured...
2402 personel were killed...
these photos need no words...
can you imagine getting ready for Christmas and this being the headlines?...
my mother was 6 years old...
they heard the news on the radio...
my grandfather would try to enlist twice...
denied both times...
first for his vision...
and the second time for his age...
but Steve's dad went...
and so many others...
and people would go to the theater on the square to watch news reels...
this one day made it a world effort to stop the madness...
my childhood stories contained my parents' and grandparents' accounts of how Christmas was for them that year and in the years to come...
WWII veterans are scarce in numbers these days...
most have gone on now...
but if you happen to know or see one...
thank them for their service...
and let them know that what they fought for will never be forgotten...
and say a prayer for world peace on Tuesday...
some headlines of the time...

vintage Christmas images...

here are some vintage wrapping paper images...
I so remember these as a kid...
and a couple of vintage Christmas card  images...
and some cupcake picks...
I remember we had these in all our cupcakes and cakes at Christmas time...
a fun afternoon to remember the past...

sleighs and nutcrackers...

Rebecca found these cute white mini sleighs in her travels last week...
I have a bag full of white pieces that she picked up...
very cheap...
so here is what I did with my sleighs...
and this is just an oval basket...
ready to sell now...
$2 each...
see, Donna, I faced my fear and worked with glittered things this morning...
then I washed my hands 3 times and the table twice...
I'll probably have nightmares now...
for everyone else who doesn't know it...
I have a glitter phobia...
and just a glimpse of more to come on the 12th...
I am going to post my nutcrackers for my 2nd hand collections...
because most of them I have not bought myself, but have come from others...
and some from tag sales and on ebay...
we are doing chili today...
the temp is 25 and all the slush froze...
still white out there!

wildlife...

my neighbor's daughter took these...
she posted them on fb...
this is an odd photo...
you hardly ever see just one deer...
unless its a rogue...
so I asked her if I could post them here to show you what we have around here...
her photos are excellent!
her bird photos are awesome...
this is on her deck...
her hubby is going to build mine next spring...
and aren't these cardinals wonderful?
the middle one is the female...
she is brown so she can hide better...
we have so many in our ever greens along the road...
it gives them a safe warm place when the winds blow here...
even though I see them some...
we mainly hear them...
Thank you, Lorrie K, for letting me use your pretty pictures...