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, Honor, Teach – 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.

Empathy is the Remedy started working with WAA as an official fundraising group in 2021 and in 2022, WAA asked us to be the new Location Coordinator for the Riverside National Cemetery (RNC), 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 annually at the time) . In 2022, we helped place about 10,980 wreaths at RNC. Our goal is to raise that percentage and remember as many of the 250K fallen Veterans resting there as possible.

2023’s theme is “Serve and Succeed”. The inspiration for this year’s theme came while discussing the significance of 2022’s theme, which was “Find a Way to Serve,” and the need to continue to stress the importance of service and the positive ways it can impact lives. Wreaths Across America plans to focus on the storylines of veterans and military families who have found success through their own service, while also highlighting local volunteers across the country and the success that comes from serving their communities. The organization will continue its commitment to supporting and bringing attention to the needs of our veteran community while also showcasing the continued contributions of those who serve. 

“There are many ways to serve your community and country, and just as many definitions of success,” said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America. “We hope through focusing on those stories of success we will help change the dialogue around what it means to serve your country.”

Please take part and help us with our cause by sponsoring wreaths, volunteering, or spreading the word.

To find out more about sponsoring, volunteering, or how to spread the word, click on the buttons down below.