[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16583]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY

  Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 593, submitted earlier 
today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 593) designating December 13, 2014, 
     as ``Wreaths Across America Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am pleased to join with my colleague 
Senator King in submitting S. Res. 593 to designate December 13, 2014, 
as Wreaths Across America Day. Since its inception 23 years ago, the 
Wreaths Across America project has become an annual tradition of 
donating, transporting, and placing Maine balsam fir remembrance 
wreaths on the graves of our fallen heroes buried at Arlington National 
Cemetery, as well as at veterans' cemeteries and memorials in every 
State and overseas. In the program's first 23 years, more than 1.7 
million wreaths have been placed in honor of those who have served our 
country.
  On this December 13, thousands of volunteers across the river in 
Arlington, throughout our nation, at such overseas locations as 
Normandy, and on our Navy ships at sea, will carry out the mission of 
Wreaths Across America to ``Remember, Honor, Teach.'' This will be the 
culmination of a week-long procession between Maine and Virginia, with 
stops along the way to spread a message about the importance of 
remembering and honoring those who serve, and teaching the people of 
the United States about the sacrifices made by Veterans and their 
families.
  This year, as in years past, the Patriot Guard Riders, along with 
other patriotic groups and Maine's First Lady Ann LePage, will escort 
the tractor-trailers filled with donated wreaths from Maine to 
Arlington National Cemetery. America's trucking industry will continue 
to support Wreaths Across America by providing drivers, equipment, 
fuel, and related services to assist in the transportation of wreaths 
across the country to more than 1,000 locations.
  In recent years, Wreaths Across America has provided some 130,000 
wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. To mark Arlington's 150th 
anniversary, the goal this year is to decorate each of the 230,000 
Veterans' graves and memorials on that hallowed ground. Thanks to the 
generosity and gratitude of the American people, this goal will surely 
be achieved.
  The origin of Wreaths Across America is an inspiring example of that 
generosity and gratitude. During the Christmas season in 1991, Morrill 
and Karen Worcester took time during their busiest season to donate and 
deliver 5,000 wreaths from their company in Harrington, ME, to 
Arlington National Cemetery to honor the heroes who lie at rest there. 
At first, a small band of volunteers laid the wreaths quietly and with 
little notice. In recent years, however, the Arlington Wreath Project 
has grown to become a national phenomenon. The people of Maine are 
proud that this heartfelt gesture of America's gratitude began in our 
state.
  Wreaths Across America honors our departed heroes, but it does even 
more. It tells the Veterans still with us that we honor their service. 
It tells our men and women in uniform today that we are grateful for 
their courage and devotion to duty. It tells the families of those 
serving our country that they are in our thoughts and prayers. And it 
tells the families of the fallen that we share their grief.
  Throughout human history, the evergreen wreath has been offered as a 
tribute to heroes. On December 13, we will again offer this enduring 
symbol of valor and sacrifice. In this season of giving, we will pay 
tribute to those who have given us the most precious gift of all, our 
freedom.
  Mr. BLUMENTHAL. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed 
to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid 
upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 593) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record 
under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')

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