Saturday, December 14 from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
Remember Our Nation’s Fallen and #SayTheirNames – One Wreath At A Time
As has become our tradition, DC-area Wildcats will again gather with thousands of others to honor our nation’s heroes who are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Yes, we have Memorial Day in spring and Veterans Day in fall, but there is no better time to pause and express appreciation than during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
We will join DC-area alums from other universities and participate as part of the Capital Alumni Network (CAN) group. The overall effort, both nationally and at Arlington Cemetery, is sponsored and organized by Wreaths Across America. WAA is all-inclusive, non-partisan, and non-denominational. The mission of the organization is to remember all the fallen veterans, honor those who serve, and teach children about the value of freedom.
This will be the 28th year that WAA has placed wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery. Beginning in 2014, the goal of covering all sections of the Cemetery (with over 250,000 wreaths!) was successfully initiated. This patriotic effort requires many wreaths – and thousands of volunteers! And that is how we can help!
2019 will mark the sixth year that DC-area Wildcats, their families, and friends have participated in Wreaths Across America day at Arlington National Cemetery. In 2013, a small but mighty group of approximately ten represented our collective purple pride and patriotism. Since that time, our group has grown to over 100, representing 5+ decades of NU graduation years and including Wildcats of all ages. Join us for an incredibly memorable day of community service, patriotism, and pride!
“We are not here to ‘decorate graves.’ We’re here to remember not their deaths, but their lives.”
Bring your friends and family! All ages, especially children, are welcome and encouraged to participate. The only physical requirements involve walking the rolling hills of the Cemetery – and handling whatever the weather happens to bring.
The event is free, but registration is requested so that we can plan for the appropriate number and so that others know you are attending.
DATE/TIME:
Saturday, December 14, 2019
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM Arrival/Screening of Volunteers
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM Volunteer Group Photos and WAA Opening Ceremony
9:00 AM – Noon Wreath-Laying (in our group’s designated section)
FEES:
The event is free – but please register!
Whether or not you are able to join us for the wreath-laying, you may want to consider making a donation to sponsor a wreath – since all of the wreaths are the gifts of private citizens (and not publicly funded). Click here to access the donation site – and when you donate, indicate “Northwestern” after your name as a visible symbol of our purple pride.
For those who did not graduate from Northwestern: visit https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/ for more information
