The tradition of laying wreaths to honor our veterans during the holiday season began in 1992, when Morrill Worcester of Worcester Wreath Company (Harrington, Maine) was stuck with a number of extra wreaths at the close of the holiday season. Remembering a boyhood trip to the Nation’s Capital, and the sacred grounds of Arlington National Cemetery, he donated 5,000 wreaths to be placed at the headstones of an older section of the cemetery.​

What began as one man’s gesture, has now grown into a national movement - when in 2007 Wreaths Across America was formed as a non-profit. Today, more than 5,000 locations participate on a Saturday in December in laying the wreaths out of remembrance and respect for our nation's brave servicemen and women. In 2021, the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery was officially opened on Memorial Day with burials beginning within the week after. Midwest Honor Flight partnered with Wreaths Across America in 2021 to bring this program to our local Veterans whose final resting place is within these hallowed grounds. Sponsorships are 100% tax-deductible allowed by law.

“It’s more than simply decorating graves,” said Midwest Honor Flight CEO Aaron Van Beek. “It’s a silent message to all Veterans, their families, and those currently serving that we will REMEMBER their service, we will HONOR their lives, and we will TEACH future generations the importance of citizenship and how our freedoms have been preserved over time.”

​We understand we have Veterans Day in the fall and Memorial Day in the spring, but our service members sacrifice their time and safety every single day of the year to preserve our freedoms. In many homes, there is an empty seat for one who is serving or one who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. There is no better time to express our appreciation than during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.