Nationwide journey continues to bring home Vietnam War-era veterans
COLUMBIA FALLS, Maine, July 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Since January, Wreaths Across America’s (WAA) Mobile Educational Exhibit (MEE) has completed 93 community events in 10 states, welcoming more than 9,000 visitors. As a commemorative partner of the U.S. Vietnam War Memorial, ambassadors traveling on the MEE have welcomed 877 Vietnam veterans and comforted 186 bereaved families so far this year. In total, WAA has brought home nearly 10,000 Vietnam War-era veterans since becoming a commemorative partner in 2012.
The traveling exhibit is scheduled to visit communities in 14 states over the next six months. The schedule and upcoming states are as follows:
July: Illinois, Iowa, Maine
August: Florida and New York
September October: Massachusetts, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia
November: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina
December: Annual escort to Rhode Island and Arlington, Virginia.
The WAA Mobile Educational Exhibit serves as a mobile museum, educating visitors about the service and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes and serving as the official “welcome home” station for our nation’s Vietnam Era veterans. MEE events are free and open to the public. All community members, veterans, active duty military and their families are welcome to take a tour and speak with WAA ambassadors and volunteers.
“The goal of the Wreaths Across America traveling educational exhibit is to bring the community together and teach about the organization’s mission while remembering the service and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes,” said MEE Manager Trish Gardner. “The first half of 2024 has seen incredible support for our year-round mission and enthusiasm to find ways to get the community even more involved. We’re looking forward to a busy and exciting second half of this year’s national tour.”
You can always learn more about your community’s mission, sign up to volunteer, or support local efforts by sponsoring a veteran’s wreath by visiting www.wreathsacrossamerica.org . For $17, your sponsorship donation will go towards a living balsam wreath that will be placed on the headstone of an American hero to honor every veteran who is buried as part of National Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, December 14, 2024.
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About Leases Across America
Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery that Maine businessman Morrill Worcester began in 1992. The organization’s year-long mission, “Remember, Honor, Educate,” is carried out in part by hosting a wreath-laying ceremony in Arlington each December, as well as wreath-laying ceremonies at thousands of veterans cemeteries and other sites in all 50 states and beyond.
WAA National Office:
Rachel Wilson, Public Relations Coordinator
Wreaths across America
rwilson@wreathsacrossamerica.org
(207) 230-4599
Visit our Media Resources page to download backgrounds, photos, logos and other items to help with your story submission. All images belong to WAA staff. Additional press photos and videos are available by request via email to rwilson@wreathsacrossamerica.org.
For interviews, please see local media contacts listed by date above, or to arrange an interview with MEE Manager Trish Gardner, contact the national office at tgardner@wreathsacrossamerica.org.
CONTACT: Rachael Wilson Wreaths Across America (207) 230-4599 rwilson@wreathsacrossamerica.org
