DATELINE 12-14-06 at 1200 hours – Members of the Patriot Guard and VFW with remembrance wreaths at (12 p.m. EDT, 11 a.m. CDT, 10 a.m. MDT, 9 a.m. PST) Dec. 14, joining Civil Air Patrol units and supporting groups across the nation as part of Wreaths Across America, a national patriotic initiative bringing wreaths to more than 200 veterans cemeteries and monuments in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. In Louisville Kentucky Cave Hill Cemetery and Zachary Taylor will be the sites of ceremony for the Louisville, Kentucky events. The host of this ceremony will include several Military officials including at Col. Russ Coy Chief of Staff at Ft. Knox Kentucky and Kenneth Oster a Pearl Harbor survivor. Blue Star Mothers of deployed soldiers will also place a wreath. These honored guests will be at the Cave Hill ceremony.>>

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The campaign sprung from a patriotic tradition at Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, which began donating wreaths for veterans’ graves at Arlington National Cemetery 15 years ago. This is the first year that remembrance wreaths will be placed on sites nationwide, an observance coordinated by Maine Wing members Maj. Dennis Murray and Maj. Wayne Merritt at the request of Worcester Wreath Co.>>

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Maj. Merritt notes, “This project has taken on a life of its own, and we thank the participants who have stepped up to help us.” >>

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CAP units will be joined in this observance by Patriot Guard Riders, National Committee of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW Ladies Auxiliary, American Legion, Daughters of the American Revolution, Boy Scouts, U.S. Naval Sea Cadets, U.S. Military Veterans MC, Vietnam Veterans of America, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans, Rolling Thunder, Blur Star Mothers and other civic-minded groups.>>

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Worcester Wreath Co. and CAP encourage those who cannot participate in a Wreaths Across America program to observe a moment of silence Dec. 14 in conjunction with the nationwide observances.>>

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“When people hear about what we do at Arlington, I am often asked if I am a veteran. I am not. But I have made it my business to never forget,” said Morrill Worcester, president of Worcester Wreath Co., on the video introduction to the Arlington Wreath Project (available at www.wreaths-across-america.org). >>

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The observance began in 1992, when Worcester Wreath Co. faced a surplus of 4,000 wreaths nearing the end of the season. Remembering a boyhood trip to the nation’s capital, and the striking image of Arlington with its neat, white rows marking the graves of those who made the ultimate sacrifice – Worcester struck upon an idea.>>

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Soon the wreaths were traveling south on transportation donated by BlueBird Ranch Trucking Company of Jonesboro, Maine. The Maine State Society of Washington, D.C., helped coordinate volunteers for the wreath laying.>>

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Each year since 1992, 5,000 wreaths have been made, decorated and loaded aboard a tractor-trailer for the long ride to Arlington, Va. Civil Air Patrol members from Maine Wing’s Machias Valley Composite Squadron became involved five years ago with an invitation from CAP cadet Corey Worcester, one of Morrill Worcesters’ three sons. >>

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Fifteen years and more than 60,000 wreaths later, Worcester was struck by the interest and enthusiasm for the annual event. Humbled by the outpouring of support from veterans and their families, the very people he sought to commemorate, Worcester recognized an opportunity to reach out to more people and say thank you. Wreaths Across America was conceived in September 2006 with a mission to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach future generations that our freedoms come from great sacrifice.>>

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As for the significance of Dec. 14, Worcester explains, “By mid-December we are nearly at the end of our season. Everyone is rushed with planning for the holidays. We can’t imagine a better time to stop and take a moment to say thank you – to remember that what we have today is only here because of those who gave their lives, and the families who will be without loved ones these holidays.”>>

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For more information, visit www.wreaths-across-america.org>>

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Louisville Contact for the Cave Hill Cemetery ceremony is Walter Oster 502-548-2020>>

                                                                                                                  w.oster@insightbb.com>>

Honor guard for this event is Shawnee Post 193>>