[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 187 (Thursday, November 21, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6760-S6761]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 440--DESIGNATING DECEMBER 14, 2019, AS ``WREATHS 
                          ACROSS AMERICA DAY''

  Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. King, and Ms. Warren) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 440

       Whereas, in 1992, the Wreaths Across America project--
       (1) began by establishing an annual tradition of donating 
     and transporting Maine balsam fir veterans' wreaths to 
     Arlington National Cemetery each December and placing those 
     wreaths on the graves of fallen heroes buried there; and
       (2) placed 5,000 donated veterans' wreaths at Arlington 
     National Cemetery;
       Whereas, during the 28-year period preceding the date of 
     adoption of this resolution, more than 7,882,300 wreaths were 
     sent to locations, including national cemeteries and veterans 
     memorials in every State and overseas;
       Whereas the mission of the Wreaths Across America project, 
     to ``Remember, Honor, Teach'', is carried out in part by 
     coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in all 50 States and 
     overseas, including at--
       (1) Arlington National Cemetery;
       (2) veterans cemeteries; and
       (3) other memorial locations;
       Whereas the Wreaths Across America project carries out a 
     week-long veterans parade between the State of Maine and the 
     Commonwealth of Virginia, stopping along the way to spread a 
     message about the importance of--
       (1) remembering the fallen heroes of the United States;
       (2) honoring those who serve; and
       (3) teaching the next generation of children about--
          (A) the service of veterans; and
          (B) the sacrifices made by veterans and the their 
     families to preserve freedoms enjoyed by the people of the 
     United States;
       Whereas, in 2018, approximately 1,800,000 veterans' wreaths 
     were delivered to 1,644 locations across the United States 
     and overseas, including more than 9,300 wreaths placed at the 
     Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-
     Mer, France, an increase of more than 200 locations compared 
     to the previous year;
       Whereas, in December 2019, the tradition of escorting 
     tractor-trailers filled with donated wreaths from Harrington, 
     Maine, to Arlington National Cemetery will be continued by--
       (1) the Patriot Guard Riders; and
       (2) other patriotic escort units, including--
          (A) motorcycle units;
          (B) law enforcement units; and
          (C) first responder units;
       Whereas hundreds of thousands of individuals volunteer each 
     December to help lay veterans' wreaths;
       Whereas, in 2019, the trucking industry in the United 
     States will continue to support the Wreaths Across America 
     project by providing drivers, equipment, and related services 
     to assist in the transportation of wreaths across the United 
     States to more than 1,700 locations;
       Whereas the Senate designated December 15, 2018, as 
     ``Wreaths Across America Day''; and
       Whereas, on December 14, 2019, the Wreaths Across America 
     project will continue the proud legacy of bringing veterans' 
     wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates December 14, 2019, as ``Wreaths Across 
     America Day'';
       (2) honors--
       (A) the Wreaths Across America project;
       (B) patriotic escort units, including--
       (i) motorcycle units;
       (ii) law enforcement units; and
       (iii) first responder units;
       (C) the trucking industry in the United States; and
       (D) the volunteers and donors involved in this worthy 
     tradition; and
       (3) recognizes--
       (A) the service of veterans and members of the Armed 
     Forces; and
       (B) the sacrifices that veterans, their family members, and 
     members of the Armed

[[Page S6761]]

     Forces have made and continue to make for the United States, 
     a great nation.

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