Each year, national nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) recognizes top sponsorship groups for excellence in serving their local community while helping to share the year-long mission to remember, honor, teach.
The organization recently named the top five sponsorship groups in Iowa. They include:
- Iowa Veterans Cemetery Family Support
- KCPS Radio in Burlington.
- Ames Legion Riders
- American Legion Post 41
- Midwest Honor Flights
Collectively, these five groups helped honor more than 14,400 veterans in total, contributing to the over 17,500 servicemembers honored throughout the State of Iowa on National Wreaths Across America Day 2023.
Since its founding in 2007, WAA has collaborated with hundreds of like-minded organizations, volunteers, and civic groups nationwide to remember and honor our nation’s veterans and active-duty military throughout the year as part of its Group Sponsorship Program. As a 3-for-2 sponsorship group, a third wreath is placed for every two sponsored. Through WAA’s national $5 back program, sponsorships received ‘do good twice’ as $5 of each $17 wreath sponsorship made to a participating group goes back to them to use for their local program and initiatives.
“I have long said it would be disingenuous for us as an organization whose mission is to Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach the next generation the value of freedom, if we do not support other like-minded programs doing just that in their communities,” WAA Executive Director Karen Worcester said in a news release. “The Sponsorship Group Program is a great way to support the programs doing good work in your area all year, while honoring as many veterans as possible!”
People can help support efforts by sponsoring a veteran’s wreath for placement on National Wreaths Across America Day 2024 – Saturday, Dec. 14. Each $17 sponsorship supports WAA’s year-round mission, and the programs designed to share it in communities nationwide. In addition, a live balsam wreath will be placed on the headstone of an American hero.
On the local front, volunteers will gather on Dec. 14 to place thousands of these holiday symbols at the Rock Island National Cemetery, which has about 33,500 graves. In past years, about 2,500 wreaths have been placed.
To sponsor a wreath for a servicemember laid to rest in the State of Iowa, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org and use the Location and Group Search to directly support a registered group.
