Wreaths Across America stops at Biddeford Middle School

BIDDEFORD — The Wreaths Across America convoy made a special trip to Biddeford Middle School on Monday to educate students about the program’s mission.

The effort that would become Wreaths Across America started in 1992 when Worcester Wreath Company owner Morrill Worcester of Harrington, Maine delivered 5,000 wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery to be placed on soldiers’ graves. This year, Wreaths Across America is on track to deliver about 240,000 wreaths to Arlington Cemetery to be laid on graves on Saturday, National Wreaths Across America Day. Wreaths will also be laid at 3,400 additional locations across the United States and beyond on Saturday.

The visit to Biddeford Middle School was one of several scheduled stops the convoy made along the trek from Columbia Falls, Maine to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Wreaths Across America travels to schools and other places along the route to spread its mission “to remember the fallen, honor those that serve and their families, and teach the next generation the value of freedom.”

A ceremony was held at the school auditorium with several musical selections performed by students and a line-up of speakers.

Middle School Students Grady O’Connor said Cordelia Kane were the co-hosts of the event.

Cordelia explained why Wreaths Across America is significant to her.

She said in 2012, her sister’s swim coach, Kevin Haley, took the team to lay wreaths with Wreaths Across America. Wreath laying became an annual tradition for her brother and sister for the next three years.

In 2019, Cordelia got her chance to participate in Wreaths Across America when her Girl Scout troop took a trip to Arlington to lay wreaths on the graves of fallen soldiers.

“This was a beautiful and memorable experience for me,” she said. “Veterans have a special place in my heart.

She said her grandfather fought in World War II for the Canadian Army, and her great-grandfather served in the Canadian Air Force in a time of peace. Cordelia said her brother is currently serving in the U.S. Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton, California.

Grady said he and his father went to Arlington National Cemetery last year to lay wreaths with Wreaths Across America, and he was extremely grateful for the opportunity.

“I have three great-grandfathers who served in World War II, and their bravery inspires me,” he said.

In 2019, Grady traveled to Germany to receive his great-grandfather’s canteen that was lost during battle.

“I am grateful for every single veteran, and I feel extremely privileged to part of today’s event,” he said.

 

Gold Star Mother Cindy Tatum with service dog Linus speaks at Biddeford Middle School Monday. Standing behind her are BMS students Grady O'Connor and Cordelia Kane.

Cindy Tatum, a Gold Star Mother from Tennessee and retired teacher, said she was impressed with the students at Biddeford Middle School.

“These young people get it,” she said.

She told the students that the “teach” part of Wreaths Across America’s mission was something they could do on a daily basis. She said their generation will be the ones who someday will be making the major decisions, and there were responsibilities that came along with that.

“Others have died for you to have those rights,” she said. “That’s not information in you put in your pocket, that’s information you put in your heart.”

Tatum told the students that when Worcester, the founder of Wreaths Across America, had a surplus of wreaths in 1993, he thought back to when he was 12 years old and had won a trip to Washington D.C. and saw Arlington National Cemetery.

She told the students to use those ideas and thoughts they had now to “pay it forward,” and find a way, even it was small, to serve others.

“Because when you do that, it almost makes you feel better. There’s not a Gold Star parent that I’ve ever talked to that wouldn’t tell you that continuing the service of their child in some capacity is not one of the most important things that they do,” she said. 

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.