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The Maine State Society of Washington, DC and The Maine State Society of Washington, DC Foundation |
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In 1997, the Society installed turf (donated by Maine Turf Farm in Fryeburg, Maine) at the 5th Maine Battery site where grass had been worn away by visitors. The driver of the truck, brother of a Society member, drove from Gorham to Gettysburg and stepped out of the cab wearing the actual Civil War uniform of his great grandfather.
The 5th Maine Battery was positioned on Culp's Hill as part of the artillery defenses on Cemetery Ridge. It spent two days fending off determined Confederate infantry which repeatedly attacked the ridge. The 5th's role was a critical element in the victory at Gettysburg.
The 17th Maine Infantry anchored the Union line in the Wheatfield at Gettysburg. During nearly three hours of fierce hand-to-hand combat, the 17th held its position with the 3rd Maine Infantry on its right in the Peach Orchard.
Each year, Maine State Society members have volunteered to place the wreaths on the graves. As awareness of the project grew over the years, other state societies, American Legion and VFW posts, military units, civilian organizations, and citizens without specific organizational connections have joined Society members to assist at this event which offers a special meaning and a unique poignancy for each participant. Recently, sixth grade classes from the Margaret Chase Smith Middle School in Skowhegan, Washington County Civil Air Patrol Cadets, and others have traveled from Maine to participate.
In addition to the annual decoration of all graves in different cemetery sections, special wreaths are laid at the Tomb of the Unknowns, the mast of the USS Maine, the graves of former Maine Governor, US Senator and Secretary of State Edmund S. Muskie, of John and Robert Kennedy and of those who died in Iraq.
Mr. Worcester’s generosity is the result of a trip to Washington, DC, which he won as a 12-year-old in a newspaper carriers’ contest, and included a trip to Arlington Cemetery, which he never forgot. As a tribute to those who sacrificed for their country, which he says made it possible for him to be successful in life and business, he decided to demonstrate his gratefulness by decorating the Arlington graves each holiday season.
The Maine State Society proudly adopted this project and assumed the role of arranging for volunteers required to assure the project’s success. The Society welcomes all assistance. For more information and the date of the next wreath project, contact Society member Wayne Hanson (703-971-4148).
In 2006, Mr. Worcester also donated more than 3,000 additional wreaths which were placed at over 200 other veterans cemeteries in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and even in Iraq, as part of what has become known as Wreaths Across America. The success in the first year of Wreaths Across America was phenomenal, with literally thousands of participants. In response to this ground swell of support and interest in honoring American veterans, Worcester Wreath Company has established a nonprofit organization and joined in partnership with the Civil Air Parol to expand Wreaths Across America by adding other locations, even US cemeteries on foreign soil, including the American Cemetery in Normandy. Now you can join in honoring and saluting US veterans and show your support for this project by sponsoring a wreath for one or more of these locations, or by ordering a special wreath for your own veteran or other loved one. To learn more about this project or how to sponsor wreaths, go to http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. If you have questions, contact the Society's Arlington Wreath Project Leader, Wayne Hanson, 703-971-4148 or via email: driftabit@aol.com.
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