A joint-mission is underway with Rolling Thunder and Wreaths Across America to help honor the local veterans that gave their all for the United States.
The Rolling Thunder Chapter 4 group and the organization are currently in the process of helping make the goal possible of having over 17,800 graves at Mountain Home VA National Cemetery receive a wreath in honor of the men and women that served their country.
“We formed a partnership with the national agency called Wreaths Across America,” Bill Rambo, with Rolling Thunder Chapter 4, said. “They’re based out of Columbia Falls, Maine.”
The backstory of the organization was one that Rambo recalled with fondness.
After a surplus of wreaths were left over at his Christmas tree farm in Maine, Morrill Worcester went into action quickly by placing wreaths on the graves of soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery in Texas.
According to the Wreaths Across America website, “decades later, in 1992, his company’s surplus of 5,000 wreaths and his desire to have them placed at Arlington kicked off an annual tribute that went on quietly for over ten years. With national interest in the project having grown so greatly, in 2007 a dedicated group of volunteers formed Wreaths Across America as a nonprofit 501(c)4 to continue and expand the mission to Remember, Honor and Teach.”
Rolling Thunder Chapter 4 got involved with the group four years ago, Rambo said, and the partnership has been able to make strides on their goal.
“There’s over 17,800 graves of soldiers at Mountain Home,” he added. “That’s our goal. It’s large, but we know we can accomplish it.”
And the wheels began to roll last year with 6,000 wreaths finding their home with a fallen soldier.
“As of right now, we’re at 2,000 wreaths,” Rambo said. “Our goal is to hit 6,000 this year and we’ve got 30 days to go.”
There are various packages on purchasing a wreath: one wreath is $15, 10 wreaths are $150 and 100 wreaths go for $1,500.
“Anyone looking to purchase a wreath can make checks payable to Wreaths Across America,” Rambo said. He added the address is P.O. Box 220. Mountain Home, TN 37684.
Donations for wreaths are also tax deductible. For more information, call Rambo at (423) 276-8368 or Bill Hunt at (423) 833-2861. More information can also be found on the group’s Facebook page online.
And while the group is currently working toward their wreath goal, Rolling Thunder Chapter 4 will be hosting a special event to honor police forces in the region on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at the Jonesborough Visitors Center at 11 a.m. More information on the event is expected in the coming days.