Holiday Wreath Laying Ceremony at Pentagon Memorial

/PRNewswire/ -- Wreaths Across America is a non-profit organization that donates 5000+ Christmas wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery each year. This year, Ms. Kathryn Cross, a Gold Star Mother who is leading the Wreaths Across America effort, personally secured enough donated wreaths for all three of the 9/11 memorials including the Pentagon Memorial. The donation was made possible by the Worcester Wreath Company and Wal-Mart Corporation who are donating the wreaths as a gesture to honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001. The wreaths will be delivered as part of a convoy traveling to each of the three 9/11 memorials.

Wreaths Across America plans to deliver the wreaths to the Pentagon Memorial Thursday afternoon, December 10 . On Friday, December 11 at 3:00 p.m., Wreaths Across America and the Pentagon Memorial Fund will conduct a short wreath laying ceremony. Representatives of the Pentagon, Pentagon Memorial Fund and family members of the victims will be in attendance. Similar ceremonies will be taking place in New York City and Shanksville, PA on December 12th.

WHO: James J. Laychak, President of the Pentagon Memorial Fund
Morrill Worchester, Founder of Wreaths Across America

WHAT: Holiday Wreath Laying Ceremony

WHEN: Friday December 11, 2009
3:00 p.m.

WHERE: The Pentagon Memorial
South Parking Lot of the Pentagon

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Walmart Gives $1.1 Million to Support Military Families and Honor Fallen Heroes This Holiday Season

/PRNewswire/ -- Walmart gives an early Christmas to more than 10,000 military children and families who will receive free toys, books, Walmart gift cards and gift packages. Through a $1.1 million donation from Walmart, the initiative will benefit families in all branches of the military. The company will also lay 16,000 wreaths at national cemeteries across the United States to honor fallen veterans.

Representatives from Operation Homefront and Wreaths Across America joined Walmart in Fort Bragg, N.C. today to launch the program, part of "Walmart Gives Back," a holiday giving initiative focused on hunger relief and support for military families.

"Walmart has a history of supporting our troops. This holiday season, we recognize the sacrifices of our deployed servicemen and women - and their families back at home," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. "We know that many military families have a tough time during the holidays. They miss their loved ones who are away, and we hope that our efforts will make their holiday easier and better."

More than 300 associates from Walmart and Sam's Club locations nationwide will help organize toys and assist participants at each event.

Supporting Military Families

Spouses of deployed military personnel will shop for free today at Operation Homefront toy shops near Fort Hood and Fort Bliss in Texas; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Campbell, Ky.; Fort Stewart, Ga.; and Camp Pendleton, Calif. - markets that top the Pentagon's list of cities with the highest troop deployment. With toys and books donated from Walmart, the shops will serve more than 3,000 military moms and dads with 10,000 military children, combined.

"This has been an especially difficult year for our military families and their children. They're not only dealing with deployments but also the economic recession," said Operation Homefront chief executive officer, Jim Knotts. "Through the generosity of Walmart, these donated toys and books will allow the military families to provide a happy holiday for their children while using their limited resources on the vital basic needs."

In addition, Walmart gift cards will be given to more than 1,500 military families in 30 cities and 1,000 gift packages will be given to the caregivers of wounded military - all made possible through Walmart's donation to Operation Homefront.

Honoring our Nation's Veterans

Walmart's military support this holiday season will also help Wreaths Across America purchase, transport and lay 16,000 wreaths at national cemeteries and memorial sites across the United States, including "a mile of memories'' wreath display at Battery Park to honor 9/11 victims and veterans from the New York area, Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon, Fayetteville National Cemetery in Fayetteville, Ark. and the site of the Flight 93 crash in Shanksville, Penn.

"Our mission is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach our children the value of freedom," said Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America. "This is the second year that Walmart has generously donated wreaths, trucks, and resources - and we are proud to work with Walmart to show our gratitude to those who served and sacrificed."

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On Veterans Day, Nation Salutes Those Who Served

/PRNewswire/ -- On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki called on Americans to honor the 48 million men and women -- including America's 23 million living Veterans -- who have served our Nation in uniform.

"Americans come together today to honor and thank those who have safeguarded our Nation both in peace and war," said Secretary Shinseki. "Veterans Day is a time to renew our national resolve to care for those who have borne the battle. Our character as a country is revealed through the honor we accord them and measured by the respect with which we care for them."

Shinseki joined President Obama, military officials and leaders of the major Veterans organizations at a public wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery at 11 a.m. Following the ceremony, VA hosted an observance program in Arlington's amphitheater.

"President Obama has called for a Department of Veterans Affairs that is Veteran-centric, results-oriented, and forward-looking," said Shinseki. "We are privileged and honored to have that mission, and I am proud of the 298,000 great Americans who come to work every day to serve Veterans, over 30 percent of them Veterans themselves."

Americans attend programs and ceremonies honoring Veterans at many VA facilities across the country on Veterans Day. In some locations, Veterans and VA employees participate in programs conducted by civic and Veterans organizations. For a list of Veterans Day regional observances, visit www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/regsites.asp.

"We have a sacred trust with those who wear the uniform of the United States of America," President Barack Obama said in his Veterans Day proclamation. "We reflect upon the invaluable contributions of our country's Veterans and reaffirm our commitment to provide them and their families with the essential support they were promised and have earned."

Memorial Day is a time to commemorate deceased military members, especially those who have died during military service. Veterans Day is an opportunity to honor the men and women who have worn the uniform and thank living Veterans for their service.

"In partnership with Congress, Veteran service organizations and the American people, we will ensure that America's legacy is one of unwavering commitment and compassionate care for its Veterans," said Shinseki.

Since the beginning of November, VA's Web site has hosted oral histories of Veterans from every state and some territories produced by the Library of Congress in its Veterans History Project. Each day leading up to Veterans Day, five additional Veterans from different states have recounted their military experiences on the VA Web site, www.va.gov.

In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued America's first Veterans Day proclamation. The Veterans Day observance has evolved over the years. America's custom of observing the end of World War I in 1918 at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month became a legal holiday known as Armistice Day in 1938.

In recognition of military service members' sacrifices in World War II and Korea, the name of the holiday was changed to Veterans Day so that, as President Eisenhower said, a grateful Nation might pay appropriate homage to the Veterans of all its wars who have contributed so much to the preservation of this Nation.

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Dave Niebes Participates in The Wreaths Across America Program

The Wreaths Across America program is sponsored annually by the Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine involving thousands of Christmas wreaths that are donated for placement at Arlington National Cemetery and other military cemeteries across America.

Dave Niebes represented Fayette County (Georgia) Post 105 of The American Legion at Arlington National Cemetery again this year.

He is shown at the grave of Seaman First Class William E. Harris, a World War I Navy veteran from Georgia

During a special ceremony, Christmas wreaths were also placed at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

Note: Wreaths Across America was featured on Fox News Sunday 12/14/08. During the program the owner of the Worcester Wreath Company stated he would like to expand the program to include the placement of wreaths on veterans graves across the country.

This video tells more about the current project. We invite you to find out more and join in the effort:

Each year Worcester Wreath Company donates 5000 wreaths to be placed on the graves at Arlington National Cemetery to honor our Veterans during the holidays. This video was put together by the folks at Worcester Wreath, and President Morrill Worcester - to show why they do it. With images of Arlington, family and friends - this is one visual way of saying thank you - to those who serve, to those we've lost, and to those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy the freedoms of this Country.