At 7 am on a very cold Saturday morning, a group of GWSB undergraduate students was already on the Metro, but they were not headed to the mall seeking holiday sales. The students, coordinated by the Business Council, were on their way to Arlington National Cemetery, ready to volunteer for Wreaths Across America where they assisted in laying over 10,000 wreaths honoring America’s veterans.
The Wreaths Across America story began 17 years ago when Worcester Wreath Company (a for-profit commercial business located in Harrington, Maine) began a tradition of placing wreaths on the headstones at Arlington National Cemetery during the holidays. Over that period of time, Worcester Wreath has donated 90,000 wreaths, which are placed by volunteers in a wreath-laying ceremony each December. This year, owners Morrill and Laura Worcester donated more than 17,000 wreaths, including the more than 10,000 wreaths that the GWSB students helped place at Arlington. Before volunteers started placing the wreaths in Section 12, they were addressed by James B. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs; John C. Metzler, Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery; and Morrill and Laura Worcester.
“Wreaths Across America was nothing short of an amazingly patriotic, emotionally moving, and simply delightful experience,” said GWSB junior Clarice Casamina. “The event was a great way to share the holiday season with close friends and represent the appreciation we have as students of GW as well as citizens of the USA.” Sophomore Casey Welch, reflected after placing a wreath on the tombstone of a soldier born in 1892 who fought and died in the Korean War. “As we walked away, I looked back on Section 12, and saw a crowd of about 3000 amid a flood of green wreaths with red bows. It was a beautiful sight and a touching experience that I hope to take part in for many years to come.”
The GW Business Council was established to serve as a facilitating organization that unites all undergraduate student business organizations on campus. The Council is comprised of student leaders that meet to share information about their organizations and foster relationships between undergraduate business organizations and the GW School of Business.Senior, Christina Johansen volunteers at "Wreaths Across America"
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