Did you know Wreaths Across America recycles wreaths its volunteers place on veterans’ headstones?
The sustainable process that helps the trees thrive while reducing waste was started and perfected by the organization’s founder Morrill Worcester. The wreaths are each made by hand, with Maine-grown balsam that is tipped every three years.
"When I first started, I thought they cut the trees down," said Clifton "Cliff” Vangilder, location coordinator for West Virginia National Cemetery. “I didn't realize how the process worked until I went up to Maine and saw it for myself. I see now that the trees are tipped (pruned). We put the wreaths together, and they play their part in Wreaths Across America honoring our veterans."
Wreaths Across America is the non-profit organization best known for placing wreaths on veterans’ headstones at Arlington National Cemetery. Last year, the organization placed more than 2.4 million sponsored veterans’ wreaths at 3,100 participating locations nationwide.
One of the challenges facing WAA volunteers is what to do with the wreaths after they’ve honored the veterans and are removed from the headstones. To come up with an environmentally friendly answer to that question, Vangilder teamed up with Jerod Harman, conservation director for B.A.S.S. Nation of West Virginia. The two devised a unique environmental management plan that not only disposed of the retired wreaths but also became the foundation of a wildlife habitat.
For the last two years, the wreaths have been collected and turned into a habitat in Tygart Lake in West Virginia. There they provide fish with shelter from predators, helping to increase their chances of maturing and spawning.
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"Now the wreaths continue into the lakes for fish habitats and it's a big circle of life," said Harman, who is also president of the West Virginia Wildlife Federation.
B.A.S.S. Nation of West Virginia is made up of bass anglers and conservation volunteers who teach young people to fish with ethical values in competition and instill principles of conservation to use resources wisely and replenish them.
"Anything that honors veterans stands out for me," said Harman, whose father served in the Marine Corps. "That's what I want to be remembered for with this project. It's not necessarily about putting habitat in the lake as much as its continuing the legacy of what these veterans, laid to rest in the national cemeteries, have done for us. We can take these wreaths, and their spirit lives on in the lake. Maybe one day, one of their grandchildren will come and catch a fish."
Harman said making the habitat structure is simple and can be replicated almost anywhere.
“PVC pipes are anchored with cinder blocks, and the wreaths are placed over the pipes. Rows are placed horizontally and vertically underwater offshore,” he said. “When the wreaths deteriorate the metal-rings [that hold the balsam tips together] are removed as new wreaths are placed on the structure.”
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He added that extreme care is taken to ensure that no harm comes to the environment with the fish structures.
“The Corps of Engineers are tickled with what we're doing, and we've worked together with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources,” he said. “There's an enormous amount of support for this project."
Throughout the year, tune in to Wreaths Acorss America Internet Radio Wreaths Across America Internet Radio, to learn more. You can sponsor a veteran’s wreath anytime for $15 here. Each sponsorship goes toward a live, balsam wreath that will be placed on the headstone of a veteran on Dec. 17, 2022, as part of National Wreaths Across America Day.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.