Yaak residents lay wreaths for vets at Boyd Hill Cemetery
Here are the volunteers who helped make the wreaths on Dec. 10 and placed them in a very snowy Boyd Hill Cemetery. From left, front row, are Jerry Thomas, Randy Wilson, Bob Goodwin, Sandy Beder-Miller, Dori Goodwin and Mike Sanders. From left, back row, are Larry Miller, Christine Eriksmoen and LouAnn Thomas. (Photo by Randy Becham)
In 1992, Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, had a surplus of Christmas wreaths near the end of the holiday season.
He remembered visiting Arlington National Cemetery as a young boy and the impression it left upon him. Worcester realized he had an opportunity to honor our country’s veterans.
With the aid of Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe, arrangements were made for the wreaths to be placed at Arlington in one of the older sections of the cemetery that had been receiving fewer visitors with each passing year.
What started as a small gesture to our nation’s veterans has blossomed into a national movement when the organization received national attention in 2005.
Today every grave in Arlington receives a wreath and veteran cemeteries across the United States also participate.
Donations are accepted in honor and memory of veterans. The cost per wreath is $15.
Local Yaak residents Larry and Sandy Miller have donated to Wreaths Across America since 2005 to honor their grandfathers, fathers, uncles and friends who served in the military.
In 2017, they volunteered to lay wreaths in Missoula’s Military cemeteries. Several Yaak residents approached them and asked if a similar event could be organized at Yaak’s Boyd Hill Cemetery.
Starting in 2019, Yaak residents gathered before Christmas and made wreaths from local materials for the 28 veterans resting at Boyd Hill Cemetery.
The oldest resting veteran is Columbus Robards who served in the Cavalry and lived from 1846-1929. The youngest resting veteran is Ryan Montgomery who served in the Army and lived from 1969-2020.
Last Saturday, the Yaak event entered its third year as wreaths were laid out on Dec. 10.
Anyone can be part of this holiday tradition by donating to Wreaths Across America.
The website address is https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/