The holiday season is a time for celebration and remembrance. Festive decorations abound, from highways to doorways, to brightly lit displays across front yards all over the Unites States, and even, in cemeteries. While honoring those who have passed can happen year round on a personal level, every year Wreaths Across America coordinates an extensive group effort to place wreaths on the graves of every fallen solider.

That’s no small task. There are over 400,000 headstones in Arlington National Cemetery alone, and that’s just one location! WAA coordinates wreath-laying at over 1,400 different locations in all 50 United States, and even at sea and abroad.

Wreaths Across America began in 1992, when Worchester Wreaths discovered they had a surplus of wreaths late into the holiday season. It was then that Morrill Worchester, owner of the company, reflected on his boyhood experience winning a trip to Washington D.C. and visiting Arlington National Cemetery. It made such a strong impression on him even decades later, that he decided to use the surplus to honor veterans. With the help of thousands of school, scout, civic, religious groups, and trucking companies across the country, this wreath laying event has expanded into the national campaign it is today. The participation of trucking companies may seem surprising, but as cemeteries are scattered all over the United States, without a way to transit the innumerable quantity of wreaths, this event would not be anywhere near as successful and far reaching as it is.

Wreaths Across America’s mission is to, “Remember, Honor and Teach,” and while one of their largest events is during the holidays, they carry out their mission throughout the year which includes the Remembrance Tree program, “Thanks a Million” Campaign, and Wreaths Across America Museum in Maine.

This year National Wreaths Across America Day is Dec. 15, 2018.

One of the organizations who participates is Waste Masters Solutions, a commercial waste solution and recycling company that has been serving all of Delaware since 2009. Co-founded by Brian Simmons and Steve Masterson, who have over 100 years’ experience between them, Waste Masters Solutions is dedicated to ensuring competitive rates and top-quality service, but also championing many veteran based causes as a way to say, “thank you.” Masterson, a veteran himself, hopes to inspire other businesses to do the same and give back to the community, maintaining a core company belief that, “Actions speak louder than words.” Along with traditional trucking companies, Waste Masters Solutions is a rolling ambassador as part of the “honor fleet” for Wreath Across America, a group of companies that offer their trucks to help transport the many wreaths, carrying “truckloads of respect.”

If you’d like to get involved, there are a few different ways you can do so. You can sponsor a veterans’ wreath in honor or in memory of an American hero at a cemetery near you, volunteer, or donate to a local fundraising group. Be sure to use the following code for Waste Masters when you do: DEVMBE

Please note, if there are no participating locations near you, WAA will support you in becoming a Location Coordinator for a cemetery in your area, at no cost.

Waste Masters Solutions is a locally and privately owned environmental solutions company committed to helping the community whenever possible. The company philosophy is to support the community that supports the business. Led by co-founders Brian Simmons and Steve Masterson, Waste Masters Solutions is now a leading provider of environmental solutions, waste handling and recycling services for large and small companies across a wide range of industries in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey.

“You are what you do, not what you say you do.” —Steve Masterson, co-founder, Waste Masters Solution

Waste Masters Solutions

19 Davidson Lane
New Castle, DE 19720
824-0909 • www.wastemasters.com

Facebook • Twitter • Instagram