Empathy is the Remedy Foundation has proudly partnered with Wreaths Across America (WAA) since 2021, becoming the official WAA Location Coordinator for Riverside National Cemetery in 2022. Our goal is to ensure that every veteran interred there receives a wreath, a symbol of our enduring gratitude. WAA was 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.

Riverside National Cemetery, the largest and busiest VA cemetery in the nation, serves as a final resting place for over 315,000 veterans. We chose to partner with this cemetery to honor the countless heroes laid to rest here and ensure that their sacrifices are not forgotten. By participating in Wreaths Across America Day, we can show our gratitude and create a lasting legacy of remembrance. Every year, through Wreaths Across America, we strive to place a wreath on every grave. However, with so many heroes laid to rest, we need your help to reach them all.

2024’s theme is “Live with Purpose” draws inspiration from the remarkable stories of Wreaths Across America volunteers whose impactful work in their communities is a beacon of inspiration for all. Wreaths Across America will be sharing a monthly video series and corresponding lesson plans starting in February that speak to the 10 bouquets that make up a veteran’s wreath – these are the 10 attributes or characteristics that WAA believes define our nation’s servicemembers – a symbol of honor, respect and victory. 

“Over the course of the last year, and then especially on the escort to Arlington last December, I listened to people who had gone through great adversity, and they'd taken that adversity and turned it around as a call to action to spend the rest of their lives making sure that every day was meaningful and that they lived with purpose,” said WAA Executive Director Karen Worcester. “For me, to live with purpose is a mindset.”

Join us in honoring the heroes laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery. As we place wreaths on their graves, we remember their sacrifice and ensure their legacy lives on.