Blissfield Ready for Wreaths

By DOUG DONNELLY

Wreaths Across America will return to Blissfield next month.

This is the eighth year Blissfield will participate in the national event, which takes place Dec. 13.

Wreaths Across America is a national, non-profit that began in 1992. Morrill Worchester, a local wreath maker from Maine, had a surplus of holiday wreaths that year. As a young boy, he won (he was a paperboy) a trip to Washington, D.C. and his visit to Arlington National Cemetery left an indelible impression on him. With the surplus of wreaths in 1992, Mr. Worchester and his senator, Olympia Snow, made arrangements to have those wreaths transported to Washington, D.C. Those wreaths were placed in the older section Arlington that was receiving fewer and fewer guests each year.

This annual tribute went on for several years until 2005. That year a photo of the stones at Arlington that were adorned with the wreaths received national attention. From there, Wreaths Across America was born. Today, there are nearly 5,000 locations — nationally, abroad, and at sea. More than three million volunteers place these wreaths at veterans' graves.

In Blissfield, Michigan the planning for the annual Wreath Day starts early in the year. Blissfield Township Board gives permission to place wreaths at the three cemeteries — Pleasant View, Spiegle and Crane. In these three cemeteries, there are more than 570 veterans buried. There are veterans from the Civil War, Spanish American War, World Wars I and II, Korea conflict, Vietnam and the Middle Eastern conflicts.

Funding for Wreaths Across America comes from local organizations, families, and individuals. Every year the goal is to raise enough money to cover each veterans' grave to remember and honor them. All funds go to purchase the wreaths from the national organization, Wreaths Across America.

The Blissfield location tries to keep a list of all the fallen veterans and where they are buried in the cemetery.

Fundraising has begun for the 2025 year. Each wreath is $17. To purchase, contact Eric Rogers by calling 517-605-7734 or Debbi Rogers at 734-652-0424.

The deadline for purchase is this week.