Remember, honor, teach

BELFAST — At noon on Sunday, the city of Belfast turned out to greet an annual rite of December in the United States.

Wreaths Across America, an organization dedicated to remembering, honoring and teaching about our nation’s veterans with a program that places wreaths on their grave sites, made its way through Maine.

Escorted by local and state police, a caravan  of trucks filled with wreaths embarked on a journey that will conclude Dec. 17 with wreath laying in Arlington National Cemetery, in Virginia, with simultaneous ceremonies at 3,400 other sites across all 50 states.

One of a dozen tractor-trailers in the Wreaths Across America caravan turns onto Route 3 at the Belfast bypass Dec. 11. Source: Waldo County Sheriff’s Facebook Page

Wreaths Across America coordinates wreath laying ceremonies throughout the U.S., at sea, and abroad.

One of those locations is the Veterans Memorial at the town complex in Jackson. On Saturday, Dec. 17, at 9 a.m., the town will bless wreaths received from Wreaths Across America before laying them on veterans’ grave sites at cemeteries throughout Jackson.

Sunday’s Wreaths Across America motorcade drew crowds of supporters from Waldo County as well as a visit from Santa to assist in directing traffic.

Residents and first responders cheer as vehicles in the Wreaths Across America Escort to Arlington caravan make their way through Belfast on Dec. 11. Photo by Michelle Christian

A tractor-trailer carries wreaths through Belfast Dec. 11 in the annual Wreaths Across America Escort to Arlington. Source: Waldo County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page

Belfast and Liberty hook and ladder fire trucks form an arch over the roadway for the Wreaths Across America caravan that passed through Belfast Dec. 11. Source: Waldo County Sheriff’s Facebook Page

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