III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 440 

Designating December 14, 2019, as ‘‘Wreaths Across America Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 21, 2019 

Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. KING, and Ms. WARREN) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating December 14, 2019, as ‘‘Wreaths Across 

America Day’’. 

Whereas, in 1992, the Wreaths Across America project— 

(1) began by establishing an annual tradition of donating and transporting Maine balsam fir veterans’ 

wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery each December 

and placing those wreaths on the graves of fallen heroes 

buried there; and 

(2) placed 5,000 donated veterans’ wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery; 

Whereas, during the 28-year period preceding the date of 

adoption of this resolution, more than 7,882,300 wreaths 

were sent to locations, including national cemeteries and 

veterans memorials in every State and overseas; 


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•SRES 440 ATS 

Whereas the mission of the Wreaths Across America project, 

to ‘‘Remember, Honor, Teach’’, is carried out in part by 

coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in all 50 States 

and overseas, including at— 

(1) Arlington National Cemetery; 

(2) veterans cemeteries; and 

(3) other memorial locations; 

Whereas the Wreaths Across America project carries out a 

week-long veterans parade between the State of Maine 

and the Commonwealth of Virginia, stopping along the 

way to spread a message about the importance of— 

(1) remembering the fallen heroes of the United 

States; 

(2) honoring those who serve; and 

(3) teaching the next generation of children about— 

(A) the service of veterans; and 

(B) the sacrifices made by veterans and the 

their families to preserve freedoms enjoyed by the 

people of the United States; 

Whereas, in 2018, approximately 1,800,000 veterans’ wreaths 

were delivered to 1,644 locations across the United 

States and overseas, including more than 9,300 wreaths 

placed at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, an increase of more 

than 200 locations compared to the previous year; 

Whereas, in December 2019, the tradition of escorting tractor-trailers filled with donated wreaths from Harrington, 

Maine, to Arlington National Cemetery will be continued 

by— 

(1) the Patriot Guard Riders; and 

(2) other patriotic escort units, including— 

(A) motorcycle units; 


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•SRES 440 ATS 

(B) law enforcement units; and 

(C) first responder units; 

Whereas hundreds of thousands of individuals volunteer each 

December to help lay veterans’ wreaths; 

Whereas, in 2019, the trucking industry in the United States 

will continue to support the Wreaths Across America 

project by providing drivers, equipment, and related services to assist in the transportation of wreaths across the 

United States to more than 1,700 locations; 

Whereas the Senate designated December 15, 2018, as 

‘‘Wreaths Across America Day’’; and 

Whereas, on December 14, 2019, the Wreaths Across America project will continue the proud legacy of bringing veterans’ wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates December 14, 2019, as ‘‘Wreaths 

3 Across America Day’’; 

4 (2) honors— 

5 (A) the Wreaths Across America project; 

6 (B) patriotic escort units, including— 

7 (i) motorcycle units; 

8 (ii) law enforcement units; and 

9 (iii) first responder units; 

10 (C) the trucking industry in the United 

11 States; and 

12 (D) the volunteers and donors involved in 

13 this worthy tradition; and 


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•SRES 440 ATS 

1 (3) recognizes— 

2 (A) the service of veterans and members of 

3 the Armed Forces; and 

4 (B) the sacrifices that veterans, their fam5 ily members, and members of the Armed Forces 

6 have made and continue to make for the United 

7 States, a great nation. 

Æ 


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