[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18475]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of and the 
Senate now proceed to S. Res. 686.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant editor of the Daily Digest read as follows:
  A resolution (S. Res. 686) designating December 11, 2010, as 
``Wreaths Across America Day.''
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, in honor of the hard work and generosity 
of all those involved in the Wreaths Across America project, U.S. 
Senators Olympia J. Snowe and I have submitted a resolution in the 
Senate that would designate Saturday, December 11, as ``Wreaths Across 
America Day.''
  On Saturday, December 11, a convoy of Mainers will arrive at 
Arlington National Cemetery to honor our Nation's fallen heroes. At 
each of the thousands of gravesites at our country's most hallowed 
resting place, citizens from Maine will lay Maine-made balsam wreaths 
at each gravesite that identifies one of our Nation's fallen veterans. 
Joining them will be the Patriot Guard Riders, an organization made up 
of men and women who have volunteered a portion of their lives to 
consecrating the sacrifice of the service men and women who gave their 
all for our country. Together, they will continue their tradition of 
escorting and driving tractor-trailers filled with donated wreaths on 
the journey from Harrington, ME, to Arlington National Cemetery. This 
is the 19th consecutive year that Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester 
Wreath Company in Harrington, has made this generous donation. And once 
again, more than 100,000 wreaths will be placed in more than 400 
locations, including Arlington National Cemetery and at veterans 
cemeteries in America and abroad.
  The holiday season is one that many Americans enjoy by spending time 
in the comfort and company of their family and close friends. Many 
families who have lost loved ones serving their country will not share 
the same comfort and joy during this holiday season. The men and women 
behind the Wreaths Across America project work hard to honor these 
families and their lost love ones. Our resolution is a modest way for 
the U.S. Senate to honor these men and women, as well as the veterans 
and families who sacrifice so much in order to make it possible for us 
to celebrate this holiday season in freedom.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 686) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 686

       Whereas 19 years ago, the Wreaths Across America project 
     began an annual tradition, during the month of December, of 
     donating, transporting, and placing Maine balsam fir holiday 
     wreaths on the graves of the fallen heroes buried at 
     Arlington National Cemetery;
       Whereas since that tradition began, through the hard work 
     and generosity of the individuals involved in the Wreaths 
     Across America project, hundreds of thousands of wreaths have 
     been sent to national cemeteries and veterans memorials in 
     every State and to locations overseas;
       Whereas in 2009, wreaths were sent to over 400 locations 
     across the United States, 100 more locations than the 
     previous year, and 24 sites overseas;
       Whereas in December 2010, the Patriot Guard Riders, a 
     motorcycle and motor vehicle group that is dedicated to 
     patriotic events and includes more than 200,000 members 
     nationwide, will continue their tradition of escorting a 
     tractor-trailer filled with donated wreaths from Harrington, 
     Maine, to Arlington National Cemetery;
       Whereas thousands of individuals volunteer each December to 
     escort and lay the wreaths;
       Whereas December 12, 2009, was previously designated by the 
     Senate as ``Wreaths Across America Day''; and
       Whereas the Wreaths Across America project will continue 
     its proud legacy on December 11, 2010, bringing 15,000 
     wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery on that day: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates December 11, 2010, as ``Wreaths Across 
     America Day'';
       (2) honors the Wreaths Across America project, the Patriot 
     Guard Riders, and all of the volunteers and donors involved 
     in this worthy tradition; and
       (3) recognizes the sacrifices our veterans, members of the 
     Armed Forces, and their families have made, and continue to 
     make, for our great Nation.

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