Wreaths Across America announces expanded TEACH program

Access to curriculum and resources specific to character and service-based learning

This year’s theme for Wreaths Across America is “Find a Way to Serve.”

WAA said, “In keeping with this, and the organization’s commitment to teach the next generation the value of freedom through stories of courage and character, we are proud to announce the launch of our revamped TEACH program. The program, which both shares established curriculum from like-minded organizations, and introduces new educational materials, focuses on character development and service projects for young people of all ages.”

The expanded TEACH program will help serve as a conduit to share the established curriculum materials from partner organizations such as The Unites States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, the American Rosie Movement, Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, The Congressional Media of Honor Society, and IKEducation at the Eisenhower Foundation. Additionally, WAA has developed a veterans’ oral history project for youth from fourth grade through high school, which encourages young people to interview a veteran, service member or Gold Star Family member to learn about the sacrifices the military makes on behalf of this country.

To learn more, or download WAA’s TEACH materials, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/teach.

“As executive director, founding family member, and mother of six kids whose lives have been greatly impacted by the opportunity to meet so many in the military community, I know that the teaching aspect of our mission is the most important,” said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America. “Last year, this longstanding desire to develop a more robust education program took a giant step forward when past President of American Gold Star Mothers Inc. and retired teacher Cindy Tatum stepped forward to help us achieve this dream.”

Lesson plans for all grade levels and learning abilities have been designed by WAA’s new curriculum developer, Tatum.

“Being a part of helping Wreaths Across America teach younger generations about the value of freedom, and the importance of honoring those who sacrificed so much to protect those freedoms, is something I know I am supposed to be doing – and I know my son, Daniel, would want me to do,” Tatum said. “I want America’s youth to learn that, as citizens of this world, there are things they can do to lift the human spirit; things that are easy, things that are free, things that they can do every day.” 

This year, National Wreaths Across America Day is Saturday, Dec. 17. It is a free event and open to all people. For more information on how to volunteer locally, or sponsor a wreath for an American hero, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. To follow stories throughout the year from across the country focused on this theme, use the hashtag #FindAWay2022.

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s mission – “Remember, Honor, Teach” – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.