Wreaths Across America

Fifteen years ago, a couple by the name of Merrill and Karen Worcester, owners of the Worcester Wreath Company, began donating wreaths for the Arlington Cemetery. 

Back then, they were the leftover wreaths that they had that were still fresh.  He didn't want them to go to waste, so he began sending them to Arlington.  This came about because when he was younger, he won a trip to Washington DC, and he always remembered the Arlington Cemetery from that trip.

He continued sending these wreaths each year, as his way of giving back to veterans because "without them, we would not have what we do today".

This year, 2006, is the first year that they've included other veteran's cemeteries around the country.  They've sent six wreaths, "one for each branch of the military with the sixth wreath to remember those still missing in action", to each of the country's veteran's cemeteries.

Some of the organizations helping to achieve the goal of getting all these wreaths to their destinations include: the Civil Air Patrol and the Patriot Guard Riders.  The Patriot Guard Riders have chapters in each state, and each state's chapter will escort the procession in that state to the border of the next state, until they reach Washington DC.  The Civil Air Patrol will ensure the wreaths are flown to all of the states with veterans cemetaries.  At least one school in each state is taking part, and wreaths have been sent to them as well for delivery and placement in the cemetaries.  The Blue Bird Ranch is providing the trucking to get these wreaths to Arlington.

All the wreaths will be laid on December 14th this year, and everyone is invited to attend any of the cermonies.  For those unable to attend a ceremony, a moment of silence will be held at noon on December 14th.  Here is a schedule of the stops along the Escort to Arlington.

We were very fortunate here in Portsmouth New Hampshire to have been one of the stops of this wonderful Wreaths Across America procession.  Our New Hampshire State Police and the NH Chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders met them to escort them to the Massachusetts border. 

                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
This video, posted on YouTube, put together by those who work at Worcester Wreath, tells the story of WHY they do this every year.  It is a beautiful tribute to our veterans, and is quite moving.  Please take a few minutes to watch it - it's well worth your time, I promise!

What a beautiful gesture the great folks at Worcester Wreath Company are doing - and what a great lesson to share with others about honoring our veterans and those who've given all on our behalf!  In the words of the Worcesters, "without them, we would not have what we do today".......   

                                 

                                    WELCOME TO NEW HAMPSHIRE!!

New Hampshire was named by Captain John Mason for Hampshire, England.  It was part of the original 13 colonies, and became the 9th state in the country on June 21, 1788.  We are one of the six states that make up New England.  New Hampshire was the first state to declare its independence from Great Britain, and it was the first to set up its own independent government, having done so in January 1776.  That fierce independence that NH natives are known for was shining through way back then!

"The Granite State" is one of 4 nicknames that New Hampshire is known by, and it's also the one most people know of.  This nickname came about because of the enormous amounts of granite formations and quarries throughout the state.  The other nicknames are "Mother of Rivers", for the five great rivers of New England that originate in NH's mountains; "The White Mountain State" for the White Mountain Range; and "Switzerland of America" for the beautiful mountain scenery.  Our state is certainly a very beautiful state!

Our state motto is "Live Free or Die", and most New Hampshirites take that motto very seriously.  This motto is relatively new, having been adopted by the General Court in 1945.  According to some, our motto is probably the best-known of all state mottos because 'it speaks to an aggressive independence inherent in the American dream, and partly because of its contrast to the mild sentiments usually found in most state mottos'.

This phrase came about from a letter General John Stark wrote on July 31, 1809.  He sent his toast via letter to an anniversary of the Battle of Bennington, in which he wrote:
                   "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."

To learn a little about our logo in the middle of our state seal, "The Old Man in the Mountains", visit my friend Monika McGillicuddy's blog - we're missing him more each day!!

                                    

Our state seal is the broadside view of the frigate "Raleigh", with a granite boulder in the foreground, and a beautiful rising sun in the background.  A laurel wreath surrounds the picture.  The ship signified the state's emergence as a major shipbuilding center during war years.  New Hampshire's state flag has the state seal centered on a blue field surrounded by laurel leaves and the nine stars for NH being the 9th state in the country.   

                      The very fragrant purple lilac is our state flower.  Oh they smell so 
                      heavenly, too!!  Our lilacs come in a variety of colors, but the purple lilac
                      is the one that is most prevalent here in NH.  When they're in bloom, I
                      like to grab a bunch of them and bury my face in them so I can inhale
                      that heavenly scent.......if you've never smelled fresh lilacs, you're really
                      missing a real treat of Mother Nature!!

These are just a few historical tidbits about my state of New Hampshire!  Check out the links I included to learn even more, and even better - watch my blogs for more posts about this place I call HOME - Portsmouth New Hampshire!!   

Ann Cummings
http://www.portsmouthnewhampshirehomes.com/

Here's a fun little tidbit I read today:

New Hampshire has 54.3% of its households comprised of married couples.  This info is based on a 2005 survey that was done, American Consumer Survey Group.  Utah has the highest percentage of married households, at 61.5%, and Idaho is second highest at 56.3%.

Additional numbers from that survey show that 85% of the highest income households in New Hampshire are families, and that 2/3 of those families have 2 incomes, husband and wife both working.  Americans are continually choosing to get married, unfortunately the majority don't stay married, according to the latest census numbers.  That's not good!!  ;-(

How did some of the other New England states fare in this survey?  Massachusetts and Vermont both had 48% of their households as married couples, while Rhode Island showed 46.8% as married households.  The national trend apparently is for less than 50% of the households to be made up of married couples.

So, I guess in love and marriage, New Hampshire, the "Granite State", ranks third overall!