Each year, national nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) recognizes top sponsorship groups for excellence in serving their local communities, while helping to share the nonprofit’s yearlong mission to Remember, Honor, Teach.
Among the thousands of supportive groups honoring locally interred veterans through wreath sponsorships, WAA recently announced that special recognition has been given to the top five sponsorship groups for their contributions in Missouri. Among them, Wood & Huston Bank, which has two locations in West Plains.
Other recognized organizations include Flags and Wreaths to Remember Veterans of St. Louis, Craftsmen Cares Foundations of St. Charles, TS Hill Middle School in Dexter and Military Moms of Missouri, St. Charles.
“These five groups combined helped honor over 17,200 veterans in total, contributing to the over 87,900 service members honored throughout the state of Missouri on National Wreaths Across America Day 2023, said WAA officials.
Since its founding in 2007, the organizations has collaborated with hundreds of other organizations, volunteers and civic groups nationwide to remember and honor the nation’s veterans and active-duty military through the year as part of its Group Sponsorship Program. As a 3-for-2 sponsorship group, a third wreath is placed for every two sponsored. Through WAA’s national $5 back program, sponsorships received “do good twice” as $5 of each $17 wreath sponsorship made to a participating group goes back to them to use for their local program and initiatives, officials explained.
“I have long said it would be disingenuous for us as an organization whose mission is to Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach the next generation the value of freedom, if we do not support other like-minded programs doing just that in their communities,” said WAA Executive Director Karen Worcester. “The Sponsorship Group Program is a great way to support the programs doing good work in your area all year, while honoring as many veterans as possible!”
People and organizations can help support efforts by sponsoring a veteran’s wreath for placement on National Wreaths Across America Day 2024, Dec. 14. Each $17 sponsorship supports WAA’s year-round mission, and the programs designed to share it in communities nationwide. In addition, a live balsam wreath will be placed on the headstone of an American veteran.
To sponsor a wreath for a service member laid to rest in the state of Missouri, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org and use the Location and Group Search to directly support a registered group.
