Wreaths Across America

Our annual Stem to Stone weekend begins tomorrow! A Wreaths Across America tradition, we will welcome veterans, active service members, volunteers, Gold Star Families and members of our honor fleet to WAA headquarters for a full weekend of education, networking and remembrance. Events include Saturday's Stem to Stone races on the balsam tip land, in addition to tip land tours, opportunities for Gold Star Families to tag a tree for their loved ones, access to the WAA Museum and Gold Star house and much more. Attendees include volunteers, Gold Star Families, members of our Honor Fleet and WAA Staff. We can't wait to see everyone!

"Over the course of the last year, and then especially on the escort to Arlington last December, I listened to people who had gone through great adversity, and they'd taken that adversity and turned it around as a call to action to spend the rest of their lives making sure that every day was meaningful and that they lived with purpose." - Karen Worcester, Executive Director How do you #LiveWithPurpose? https://lnkd.in/g23dK3X

Access our FREE educational resources, developed by former educator and Gold Star Mother Cindy Tatum, our TEACH lesson plans educate children of all grade levels about American history, patriotism, community and more. https://lnkd.in/e7n8vZrb

TODAY at 1PM ET - NEW MWM HER STORY PODCAST episode . Host Military Women's Memorial President Phyllis Wilson welcomes CDR Darlene Iskra, US Navy Ret. Listen Live - https://lnkd.in/dXVTXTp Commander Iskra has been a trailblazer for women in the Navy. As a professional in the Diving and Salvage Community, she achieved the pinnacle in her career field; command at sea. In doing so, she became our Navy's first woman to command at sea, an extraordinary accomplishment. Her sea tours include: - Diving Officer on the USS Hector (AR-7), Dec 1980-Nov 1982; - Operations Officer on the USS Grasp (ARS-50), Apr 1984-Feb 1987; - XO on the USS Preserver (ARS-8), Apr 1987-May 1989; - XO on the USS Hoist (ARS-40), May 1989-May 1990; - CO on the USS Opportune (ARS-41), Dec 1990-Feb 1993. Additionally, she is a graduate of the Naval War College and has served on the staffs of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Commander, Naval Forces Marianas, Guam; and the Commander, Naval Ordnance Center, Indian Head, MD. “HER Story: 3 Million Servicewomen’s Stories” can be heard exclusively on Wreaths Across America Radio each Wednesday afternoon at 1 pm EST. Wreaths Across America Radio is available on the iHeart Radio app, TuneIn, the Audacy app, and at https://lnkd.in/dXVTXTp Just click the link and then follow the directions to Listen Live. Our Her Story podcast is another step forward to broaden our reach and support our mission to Honor and Remember the some 3 million women who’ve served and to Educate and Empower the public with the stories and experiences of America’s women patriots. #MWMHerStoryPodcast #USNavy #wreathsacrossamerica #wreathsradio #WeAreMWM #HonorEducateEmpowerRemember

The third event of our TEACH webinar series, hosted with the The Library of Congress Veterans History Project, will take place on Tuesday, August 13th, from 4 pm ET /1 pm PT! The event will be co-hosted by Cindy Tatum, Wreaths Across America Curriculum Developer and Gold Star Mother, and Andrew Huber, Senior Liaison, Library of Congress Veterans History Project. Registration is FREE but required - join us! https://lnkd.in/gjSvPWBP

This year, National Wreaths Across America Day will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024. Join the more than two million volunteers and supporters who will gather to Remember, Honor and Teach at more than 4,225 participating locations in all 50 states, at sea and abroad. #LiveWithPurpose https://lnkd.in/g23dK3X

It's not too late to register for the sixth annual Wreaths Across America Stem to Stone Races! This year, the event will be held on Saturday, July 27. Both in-person and virtual options are available to participants. For each race registration made, a veteran’s wreath is sponsored, and a hero will be honored on National Wreaths Across America Day – Saturday, December 14, 2024. https://lnkd.in/gegJKAk6

We are thrilled to spotlight Kiwanis of Big Lagoon during our #GivingInJuly campaign! The Kiwanis Club of Big Lagoon Foundation is our top Sponsorship Group in the United States, raising the most funds for the mission last year. Congratulations! Through our $5 back program, this group uses returned funds to "to improve the world and our community, one child at a time." Since 2015, this Group has sponsored 23 students with the Take Stock in Children college scholarship. Their “Reading Builds Leaders” program encourages kids to love reading, donating 100 Accelerated Reader books to 14 elementary school libraries. The Group sponsors and mentors Service Leadership programs, getting kids involved in promoting WAA, placing wreaths, and participating in the Wreaths Across America Day ceremony at Barrancas National Cemetery. This group is an incredible example of doing good, twice! Support Kiwanis of Big Lagoon with your $17 veteran's wreath sponsorship this month! https://lnkd.in/grZJq6hF

Our Director of Transportation, Courtney George, was recently featured on the Standing Out podcast, sharing behind-the-scenes details about the intricate logistics and planning that goes into moving millions of veterans' wreaths to cemeteries across the country each December. Thanks for having us! https://bit.ly/3W7lzSq

Our first #GivingInJuly Sponsorship Group spotlight is The Ripley County Community Foundation! A $5 back Sponsorship Group, "Wreaths Across Ripley County" organizes community efforts to honor more than 4,000 fallen veterans each year across 56 cemeteries. "The Ripley County Community Foundation would like to thank the community, dedicated volunteers, generous sponsors, essential truck drivers, area officials, and members of the media for coming together in unity and supporting those who have protected our freedom. Each person has played an important part in this mission and we are grateful we are able to continue this program in the coming years." Thank you to this incredible Sponsorship Group! To support Wreaths Across Ripley County with your $17 veteran's wreath donation: https://lnkd.in/gVgdeBeS