This Christmas, the gift of freedom is the theme of this week's Good Friday.
Saturday, December 13th was National Wreaths Across America Day. Wreaths across America the organization was founded in 1992, Congress designates a day in December to honor our veterans and fallen heroes, and Wreaths Across America does the rest. They mobilize to lay a wreath on the graves of those who served and died defending the freedoms we enjoy.
Last Saturday, more than two million veterans' wreaths were laid at local, national and military cemeteries, veterans' memorials and historic sites. The tradition began at Arlington National Cemetery that first year and continues there today. Families with a cemetery pass have the privilege of laying wreaths the day before the national holiday. Arlington National Cemetery posted on its X account that this year marks the most visited Family Passholder Day since its inception.
Thank you to our family pass holders who laid a wreath at their loved one's grave today.
Each year before Wreaths Across America Day, Family Pass holders visit Arlington National Cemetery to honor their loved ones by placing a wreath on their grave or columbarium alcove. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/8PJ6j5lftT
— Arlington National Cemetery (@ArlingtonNatl) December 7, 2025
Wreath-laying ceremonies span an additional 5,200 locations across all 50 states of our country, on land and sea. This ceremony is even observed abroad in some countries. 26 military cemeteries all over the world. On the West Coast, American Legion Post 642 in Cupertino, California held a celebration at Silicon Valley.
As part of the National Wreaths Across America celebration on Saturday, December 13, American Legion Post 642 in Cupertino, California, sponsored a wreath-laying ceremony for the 10th consecutive year at Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Los Altos.
In his 10th and final year of organizing the event, Post 642 member Dennis “The Menace” Whittaker, who once served as an infantry combat platoon leader in Vietnam, coordinated the efforts of the post, city officials and local Scout units to lay more than 1,100 wreaths. Whittaker emphasized the importance of memory and education, saying, “We need to respect and explain why we are here today.” District 13 Commander Richard Perales of the American Legion Post 419 in Santa Clara also took part in the ceremony, joining volunteers in laying wreaths in honor of the fallen.
LOOK:
“We need to respect and explain why we are here today.”
Within @WreathsAcross America, American Legion Post 642 in Cupertino, California, sponsored a wreath-laying ceremony at Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Los Altos for the 10th consecutive year, laying over 1,000 wreaths.… pic.twitter.com/ee07mAZog4— American Legion (@AmericanLegion) December 18, 2025
Good Friday: Alabama Vietnam Veterans Finally Honored in Honor of War's 50th Anniversary
In the south Augusta, Georgiahonored their heroes.
Wreaths Across America was held at various locations in Aiken County to honor those military personnel who served by placing a wreath on their graves and educating the community about the importance of their sacrifice.
“These living wreaths symbolize and honor those who have served and those who serve in the armed forces of our great nation,” said Linda Roach, commandant of Marine Corps League Detachment 1132.
North Augusta American Legion Post 71 held a small ceremony Dec. 12 at Wade Hampton Park to honor veterans who will not have an individual wreath at the cemetery by laying wreaths with all six branches of the military at the park.
Several wreath-laying ceremonies took place at Pineview Memorial Gardens, Sunset Hill and Charles Hammond Family Cemeteries, and other locations in Aiken County.
Children from various Boy Scouts of America troops, volunteers and family members laid wreaths on veterans' graves at Pineview Memorial Gardens in North Augusta.
Roach said there are more than 4,000 gravesites across the country that remember those who served in the military. Roach said the price of freedom was not free, and people had to give their lives so that others could be free.
And on the East Coast Schuylerville, New YorkThe village, located 35 miles from Albany, recognized the veterans in its community.
Forty airmen, soldiers and sailors joined hundreds of volunteers to lay wreaths at veterans' graves at Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville on December 13, 2025.
[…]
A total of 17,000 balsamic wreaths were placed at the cemetery, according to the national organization Wreaths Across America.
Nine Airmen from the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing, soldiers from the New York Air National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division, sailors assigned to the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Saratoga Springs and Naval Reserve Center Schenectady took part in the wreath-laying ceremony. The event was also attended by members of the Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
A critical part of the wreath-laying ceremony involves saying the soldiers' names out loud so that their memory is never forgotten.
“Every wreath we place is about more than just evergreens and ribbons,” said Air National Guard Col. Steven Slosek, 109th Airlift Wing commander. “We promise that those who serve will never be forgotten.”
The principles of wreaths across America are “Remember, Honor and Teach,” and they serve as a guide for all who wish to do so, even if they cannot participate in the ceremony. There are several ways to show support and honor a family member, close friend, or simply a veteran who deserves an annual memorial.
REMEMBER
The easiest way is to sponsor a wreath for veterans. I have four uncles who served, so purchasing wreaths for their graves in their honor is something I plan to do in 2026. If there are no veterans in your immediate family or circle, you can always sponsor a wreath and let Wreaths Across America nominate a recipient from the millions of veterans in its database who deserve this recognition.
HONOR
If you have the opportunity to volunteer, there are several ways to do so. Laying wreaths is one thing, but someone can also help by leading a sponsorship group, organizing the ceremony, or coordinating ceremony locations. You can contact Wreaths Across America for many more ways to get involved and give your time!
LEARN
We need to teach the next generation about service and sacrifice, and getting them involved in the mission of Wreaths Across America is one way to do that. The organization even has a mobile education exhibit where students learn stories of patriotism and are encouraged to love their country. This is so necessary in our time.
LOOK:
National Wreaths Across America Day 2026 will be Saturday, December 19th. So, you have plenty of time to plan ahead to buy wreaths, sponsor an event, find a ceremony you can participate in, or commit to educating and encouraging the next generation that freedom is not free and how they can spread and share the gift of freedom they have received as a sacrifice to others.
For more information, visit Wreaths Across America. website.
Merry Christmas!
Editor's note: At RedState, it's not all about politics and politics. We like to highlight what's good in the world with columns like Good Friday, Start Your Weekend Right, and Hoge's Heroes.
Support our work! Join RedState VIP and use promo code MERRY74 and get 74% off your VIP membership!
