III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 719 

Designating December 15, 2018, as ‘‘Wreaths Across America Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 11, 2018 

Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mr. KING) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating December 15, 2018, as ‘‘Wreaths Across 

America Day’’. 

Whereas, in 1992, the Wreaths Across America project began 

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 the fallen heroes buried at Arlington National 

Cemetery; 

Whereas 5,000 donated veterans’ wreaths were transported 

from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery during the 

first year of the Wreaths Across America project and 

placed on the graves of the fallen heroes buried at Arlington National Cemetery; 

Whereas, during the 27 years preceding the date of adoption 

of this resolution, more than 6,082,300 wreaths have 


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•SRES 719 ATS 

been sent to locations, including national cemeteries and 

veterans memorials, in every State and overseas; 

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 

families of veterans to preserve the freedoms enjoyed 

by the people of the United States; 

Whereas, in 2017, approximately 1,565,300 veterans’ wreaths 

were delivered to more than 1,422 locations across the 

United States and overseas, an increase of more than 

200 locations compared to the previous year; 

Whereas, in December 2018, the tradition of escorting tractor-trailers filled with donated wreaths from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery will be continued by— 

(1) the Patriot Guard Riders; and 

(2) other patriotic escort units, including— 

(A) motorcycle units; 

(B) law enforcement units; and 


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(C) first responder units; 

Whereas hundreds of thousands of individuals volunteer each 

December to help lay veterans’ wreaths; 

Whereas, in 2018, 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 1,500 locations; 

Whereas the Senate designated December 16, 2017, as 

‘‘Wreaths Across America Day’’; and 

Whereas, on December 15, 2018, 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 15, 2018, 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 

14 (3) recognizes— 


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1 (A) the service of veterans and members of 

2 the Armed Forces; and 

3 (B) the sacrifices that veterans, members 

4 of the Armed Forces, and the families of vet5 erans and members of the Armed Forces have 

6 made, and continue to make, for the United 

7 States, a great nation. 

Æ 


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