Amazon Gives Chicago has announced its participation in Wreaths Across America for the third consecutive year, a program dedicated to honoring veterans by laying wreaths at cemeteries throughout the Chicagoland area. The announcement was made in a media release on January 8.
According to an Amazon media release, Amazon Gives Chicago joined the national Wreaths Across America initiative again this year, paying tribute to fallen veterans across the region. Volunteers from the organization visited three cemeteries: Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, ILBBTC - Blackberry Township Cemetery, and Maplewood & Lowell Memorial Cemetery in Crown Point, Indiana. At each site, Amazon employees laid wreaths on veterans' gravestones as a gesture of gratitude and remembrance.
On National Wreaths Across America Day, volunteers honor fallen service members by placing wreaths on their graves at Arlington National Cemetery and over 4,500 other locations nationwide, according to CBS News.
"This heartfelt gesture has evolved into a nationwide tradition for Amazon, and we are deeply honored to contribute to this meaningful cause," an Amazon spokesperson told the Southland Marquee. "Our participation reflects our ongoing commitment to remembering and honoring those who have served our country."
The event serves not only as a tribute but also as an educational initiative aimed at teaching younger generations about the value of freedom and the importance of honoring those who have defended it, according to Wreaths Across America.
Morrill Worcester, founder of Wreaths Across America and owner of Worcester Wreath Company, was inspired by a childhood visit to Arlington National Cemetery. According to the Wreaths Across America website, he initiated the tradition in 1992 by donating surplus holiday wreaths to Arlington and enlisting community volunteers and organizations for assistance. This act of remembrance has since grown into a nationwide movement dedicated to honoring those who served.