Dear Family, Friends, and Supporters,
I would like to respectfully request your support and assistance with a very noble and important cause . . . The Cause of Remembering and Honoring our Fallen Veterans . . . our Heroes. It is a cause that is very near and dear to my heart, and I know that it is also a very personal and important cause for many people as well. Wreaths Across America (WAA) 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 our Fallen US Veterans, HONOR those who Serve, TEACH Children the value of Freedom – 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.
Members of Empathy is the Remedy team and I have been participating in annual WAA Days since 2017 to honor my late sister, and our foundation's Founder, Nicole Joy Ledina, who passed away from a rare autoimmune condition at the age of 19. Nicole regularly volunteered providing music and music therapy for veteran, senior and homeless events/organizations and at healthcare facilities. Some of her most rewarding experiences were working with Veterans. The Remember, Honor, and Teach mission really resonated with me after that initial event. I then incorporated WAA in my BSA Scouts community service activities and the planning for my Eagle Scout project. In addition, my grandfather, CWO3 Amorsolo M. Ledina, USN Ret., is a Vietnam Veteran and we have many individuals in our extended family who have proudly served our country, so I wanted to honor them as well. Therefore, it is very fitting and appropriate that Empathy is the Remedy and I chose to partner with WAA as one of our main events/causes to undertake annually.
Empathy is the Remedy started working with WAA as an official fundraising group in 2021 and the following year, in 2022 WAA asked us to be the new Location Coordinator for the Riverside National Cemetery, the largest and busiest cemetery managed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs - National Cemetery Administration. There are over 250,000 veterans laid to rest at this location. We specifically chose to take on this location as we uncovered that it needed the most help. Not only is it the largest location, but only about 3% or less of the veterans interred there were being Honored and Remembered with a wreath when we first started looking into partnering with WAA (that was only about 3000-4200 wreaths on average being placed there at the time) . In 2021, 7921 total wreaths were placed at the Riverside National Cemetery. In 2022, our first year coordinating this location, 10,980 wreaths were placed and in 2023 we placed over 10,000 wreaths again. Our goal is to raise that number and percentage over time and Honor and Remember as many of the 250K+ Veterans resting there as possible.
As you can see we have quite a bit of work to do. That's over 240,000 graves that we still need to Honor and Remember. Let’s not Forget these Veterans interred at the Riverside National Cemetery . . . along with their sacrifices, and service to our country . . . Let’s not Forget these Heroes! This is where I need your help. National WAA Day occurs annually on the 2nd/3rd Saturday in December. We will be coordinating the ceremony and wreath laying event on that day every year. It is going to take a sustained and collective effort, care, empathy and passion from our village/community to make it happen; and every little bit from each individual can make a difference. There are 3 Ways you can help:
Sponsor Wreaths - that will be placed to Remember and Honor Fallen Veterans - We have thousands of wreaths to eventually reach our goal of full coverage, so if you are able, please consider sponsoring multiple wreaths. There are various sponsorship levels lower and higher, but the most popular for individuals are 5 wreaths for $75. Orders can be taken year around and roll into the following period after each year’s cut off date.
Register to Volunteer - We will need help onsite to lay the thousands of wreaths we are able to get sponsored and other activities to support the event. We will have volunteers coming from all over Southern California and even places farther to participate. If you can come to Riverside National Cemetery, please consider volunteering your time and register with us. Ceremonies are scheduled to start at 9AM, however volunteers will be needed before and after the ceremony. We also need volunteers to help retire and pick up the wreaths on the 2nd Saturday in January.
Spread the Word - Lets make this event and cause go viral - Share on Facebook, IG, Twitter, and social media (see links below and in the headers and footers of this page). Invite your friends, family, and contacts to Sponsor, Create a Fundraise Team, Volunteer, and Spread the Word as well.
Please direct all parties to our dedicated link to Sponsor Wreaths and Register to Volunteer. We want to be able to track our group's contribution to the goal and send communications as required. Also remember Empathy is the Remedy Foundation is doing this service project in partnership with WAA - both are registered 501 c 3 non-profit organizations. Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope you and/or your organization agree that all the Fallen Heroes at the Riverside National Cemetery deserve to be honored and remembered for their service and sacrifice to our country.
For more information please visit the WAA page on our website at: https://www.empathyistheremedy.org/wreaths-across-america
Sincerely,
Joshua Miguel Ledina
Wreaths Across America Project Manager - Empathy is the Remedy Foundation
Eagle Scout 2022 - Troop 691 Irvine, CA & Troop 654 San Diego, CA
Order of the Arrow - Brotherhood Member
