One Wreath Can Make a Difference

In my last post of this series, I talked about how you and your kids can volunteer at a food packing event or help out at your local food pantry. Teaching our kids to give back and serve others is a valuable opportunity we have in our homeschools. In this post, I’ll share some wonderful ways you can donate or volunteer to serve our country’s veterans this season through Wreaths Across America.

Remembering Those Who Serve

This past year, we have done a few service activities with our kids to teach them to show appreciation to veterans. It’s so important to remember and show appreciation for and remember the people who sacrifice so much for us, not just on Veterans Day and Memorial Day, but throughout the year. Last winter, we found a new way to get involved, through an organization called Wreaths Across America.

This organization is on a mission to remember our veterans, honor them, and educate people about the sacrifices they make everyday to preserve our freedoms. The event held each December is a great way that you and your kids can get involved.

Wreaths Across America

Each year, the third Saturday in December is National Wreaths Across America Day. On this day, wreath laying ceremonies take place at Arlington Cemetery and at thousands of other locations across the U.S. (When we volunteered, we participated in a ceremony at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery).

You can participate simply by sponsoring a wreath for $15. If there is an event happening near you this December, you can also volunteer to lay the Remembrance Wreaths on the graves of fallen heroes.

When we volunteered and laid our wreaths, we were encouraged to carry out their mission to remember, honor, and educate by saying our veteran’s name out loud, reflecting on them and their life, and thanking them for their service. It was an incredibly humbling experience.

Remembering, Honoring, and Educating Throughout the Year

I love that this event gave us a chance to talk to our children about the importance of our veterans and the sacrifices they made so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we do today. Being a part of the wreath laying ceremony was very special, and made it even more real to them.

Wreaths Across America relies on more than just this once-a-year ceremony to carry out their mission. There are many other ways they help us teach our children to remember, honor and serve:

• The Remembrance Tree Program – If your family has lost a loved one in service, you can be a part of this program. Wreaths Across America will place custom dog tags on the trunks of the balsam trees they tip every three years for the wreaths, serving as a living memorial. You can request a tag, or you can donate to the program on their website.

• The Wreaths Across America Museum – If you live near the headquarters in Columbia Falls, ME, you can visit this museum. Over the years, hundreds of items have been donated to help tell the stories and experiences of men and women who served.

• Educate Our Kids – Wreaths Across America is dedicated to educating others, and we can definitely help our kids have an appreciation for our veterans. Here is a fun printable coloring book they created you can enjoy using with your kids.

So many families are celebrating the holidays this year while remembering the service of a loved one who made a great sacrifice for us. It’s overwhelming to think about that sacrifice. The holidays are a perfect time to honor those who gave their lives for our country – but so is every other time of the year. When we are teaching our kids about volunteering and giving back, we must remember our veterans. Making a Wreaths Across America event a new family tradition (and even just sponsoring a wreath as a family) will help ensure your kids will never forget.

Don’t Miss the 12 Days of Serving Others Series

This post is part of the series “12 Days of Serving Others”. In this series, you’ll find great tips and ideas on how you can incorporate service and volunteering into your homeschool all year.

I’ll link the rest of the series posts here to make it easy to navigate!

1. Something Important That Might Be Missing From Your Homeschool
2. The “Giving Box” and Other Ways Kids Will Love to Donate
3. How Your Creative Cards Can Make a Big Impact
4. Helping Our Furry Friends: Fun Ways Kids Can Get Involved
5. The Best Boxes You’ll Ever Pack
6. One Wreath Can Make a Difference
7. Random Acts of Kindness: How to Make Them a Habit
8. Why You’ll Want to Host a “Packing Party” This Season
9. Crafted With Love: Wonderful Service Projects for Crafty Kids!
10. How To Begin Volunteering With Your Family
11. 7 Ways to Bless Others With Your Baking Skills
12. How to Build a Great Foundation for Service With Your Kids

Comment below and let me know – have you sponsored a wreath this year or participated in a Wreaths Across America event? What was your experience like?

This post is also part of the 12 Days of Homeschooling Fun Through the Holidays Series. Click here to check out the other amazing bloggers who are a part of this, and to enter the giveaway!