Charles “Chuck” Robbins and Joseph “Joe” Lysaght were part of Wreaths Across America annual escort to remember, honor and teach by placing wreaths on veterans’ graves.
American Legion National Vice Commanders Charles “Chuck” Robbins and Joseph “Joe” Lysaght had the distinct honor to be part of the Wreaths Across America (WAA) annual escort to Arlington National Cemetery. Robbins and Lysaght were two of more than 160 volunteers and 14 semis – hauling over 200,000 wreaths to be placed on veterans’ graves – that departed Columbia Falls, Maine, on Dec. 7, and made stops in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Washington D.C. The final stop was Arlington National Cemetery on Dec. 14 – Wreaths Across America Day.
It is the first time a national vice commander of The American Legion has made the entire Wreaths Across America convoy.
“This past week has left a powerful impact on me and restored my faith in America simply by seeing how effectively Wreaths Across America carries out its mission of remember, honor and teach,” Robbins said. “I’m honored to be here, and I’ll never forget this experience.”
Prior to departing Maine, the convoy visited the tree farm where the wreaths are made. While there, Robbins participated in the Remembrance Tree Program where he placed a dog tag on the trunk of an evergreen tree in remembrance of his late brother who passed away from Agent Orange complications. The balsam tips will be made into wreaths.
“That was a tremendous experience for me. That tree will never be cut down, but it will be trimmed to make wreaths. Wouldn’t it be ironic if someday I get a wreath from his tree?”
From there, the convoy traveled through communities of streets filled with families and school children waving American flags, thanking the veterans for their service. That support is Wreaths Across America’s mission – to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach the next generation the value of freedom by the placing of wreaths on the gravesites of veterans in cemeteries nationwide.
“This has been probably one of the greatest experiences of my life,” Lysaght said. “The one thing I’ve seen repeatedly from day one is patriotism. Everywhere we go, the children, the adults, young, old, people holding their babies on the side of the road waving flags, kids are screaming and hollering. I just love to see so many people supporting this great program.
“If you want to be a patriot, a real patriot and you want the value and the knowledge of what it feels like to be a patriot, get on this convoy,” Lysaght added.
The opportunity to speak with youth during the WAA convoy was a favorite moment of the trip for Robbins. “I got to talk to a bunch of elementary school children about the values of freedom and to never forget those who, you know, served our country and the sacrifices they made so that they can enjoy the liberties and freedoms they do.”
The convoy arrived in Stevensville, Md., the evening of Dec. 12, where they enjoyed rest, camaraderie and a meal at American Legion Post 278. The post has welcomed Wreaths Across America for the last 15 years. But it’s not only the meal on Thursday evening that Post 278 members provided – they also served the convoy breakfast Friday morning and sent everyone away with a boxed lunch.
“It is a community event. I mean, we do the majority of the work, but I always give the credit to the community and to my soldiers here at this post because without them, I'd be lost,” said Nikki Randolph, Department of Maryland first vice commander and a member of Post 278 who has been a part of hosting the WAA convoy from the start.
Randolph received a phone call 15 years ago from a volunteer with WAA looking for a meal. She agreed to feed the 50 volunteers. She received the same call the following year, and welcomed a new family.
“It’s no longer ‘this group coming in.’ It’s a family reunion. Our family's coming in, and that's what it's all about. Family.”
Since Post 278 has supported Wreaths Across America, they place 936 wreaths on the gravesites of veterans. That’s 90% of their 100% goal to cover all veteran headstones.
“These World War I and II veterans, they laid the footprint for our freedoms and the thing that Wreaths Across America does – the remember, honor and teach – it’s bringing Americanism back to the students. It's instilling a sense of pride to be an American,” Randolph said.
After enjoying breakfast at Post 278 the morning of Friday, Dec. 13, the WAA convoy laid wreaths at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Wall, the Korean War Memorial and World War II Memorial. At the Wall, Robbins laid wreaths for two of his friends’ brothers who were killed in action in Vietnam, while Lysaght honored his cousin who is on the Wall, U.S. Marine Robert J. Lysaght.
On Wreaths Across America Day, Robbins, Lysaght and American Legion Auxiliary National President Trish Ward helped place over 260,000 wreaths.
“To be here at Arlington National Cemetery on this day is incredibly special,” Ward said. “It’s a community of people who share the same vision to support our servicemembers and their families. It’s absolutely amazing to see a community of citizens come together in such a positive way.”
Robbins placed a wreath on the headstone of Past National Commander Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle of New Jersey, which “was an incredible honor for me,” he said. Department of New Jersey’s first commander, World War I veteran Hobart Brown, also is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The WAA journey overall has been an honor and one he is appreciative of National Commander James LaCoursiere Jr. for entrusting him.
“I've seen how America's young and old remember the sacrifices of our veterans, honor the service of those currently serving, and the importance of teaching our youth or future generations to never forget the sacrifices so many have made so they can enjoy the freedoms and liberties we so cherish,” he said. “And I've had several discussions with Morrill Worchester on his incredible patriotism and vision to have a wreath placed on every veteran's grave in America, if not the world. And I think he'll do it because he's just an incredible man, and I'm honored to know him.”
Worchester founded Wreaths Across America over 30 years ago when he purchased too many wreaths one Christmas season. He then thought, “Wouldn’t it be something if we could place them on the graves of the veterans? Nobody had ever done it before,” he shared. “It was so well received, we just wanted to keep doing it. Here we are, 33 years later, still doing it.”
Now, more than 4,800 Wreaths Across America events are held nationwide with 3 million wreaths placed on veterans’ graves. It takes WAA volunteers about two hours to place wreaths in Arlington National Cemetery.
And over 30 years later, three words remain the mission of Wreaths Across America.
“Remember, honor, teach. I think in most people's opinion, the teach word is the most important,” Worchester said. “It's nice to be able to remember the veterans, obviously, and to honor the ones that have fallen. But to teach generations to come, that's what's really important to us. And as time goes on, it seems like the younger people really don't understand what's been done for them. And that's why Wreaths Across America is concentrated on young people more than anything else.”
- Honor & Remembrance