Richard Reuer

Minot

Dean Verstreate and I were invited last week as guests to attend the 9th Annual Stem to Stone program in Columbia Falls, Maine, where our wreaths come from. During our visit, we were both able to see the behind the scenes of how are wreaths are made and sent out.

They have 3 warehouses where 90,000 wreaths are made a day 35 days prior to shipping. All are done by 700 employees working in two shifts. When wreaths are sent out they are up to 600 semi-trucks that deliver to all fifty states. While it takes 60 semi-trucks deliver the number of wreaths needed at Arlington. These semi-trucks form a convoy of 5 miles long and takes 7 days to travel from Columbia Falls, Maine to Arlington.

I had the pleasure of singing our National Anthem before we took our dog tags to be placed on a tree that would be considered our family tree as long as the tree lives. Both Dean and I were given dog tags that were made of our personal loved ones that served and are no longer with us to be place on a single tree branch and then we had to mark our trees with a red tag signifying a dog tag has been placed on this branch of this tree.

This year’s theme is “Find A Way To Serve,” and with what we have seen and learned from our trip there was another title we saw on a bronze plaque “The Christmas They Never Had.” This plaque is near a tall evergreen tree as a perpetually lit tree that stays lit all year long. We are hoping to add the stem to stone program next year and have an artificial tree on display to allow those who sponsor a wreath in honor of their fallen loved ones will be able to hang their dog tag(s) on a branch, filling the tree with dog tags and having a lighting of the tree ceremony. More will be shared as the time approaches next year.

Minot Wreaths Across America accepts a donation of $15 per wreath all year long. You will find our application forms when veteran displays are displayed at the Grand Hotel and Pioneer Village Museum. We want to especially thank these two areas for allowing us to put up these displays annually throughout the year.

Minot Wreaths Across America wants everyone to find a way to serve in sponsoring a wreath to be honored of our fallen here in Minot as well as our North Dakota fallen in Arlington. Let us give them and their family members the Christmas they never had. If you wish to participate send your checks/MO of $15 per wreath to Minot Wreaths Across America, 1738 35th Ave. SE, Minot, ND 58701. Make payable to Wreaths Across America.