Hammond Lumber Company will be initiating a company wide effort to support Wreaths Across America. Wreaths Across America, based in Columbia Falls, Maine, is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by Maine businessman, Morrill Worcester. Each December, on National Wreaths Across America Day, this three-prong mission is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 1,400 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad. In 2017, 1,560,000 wreaths were laid at 1,433 participating cemeteries.

On Friday, Nov. 9, in conjunction with Veterans’ Day, Hammond Lumber Company will begin a six-week fundraising effort by participating in RED (Remember Everyone Deployed) Friday. Employees will be proudly wearing co-branded RED T-shirts or sweatshirts each Friday from Nov. 9 to Dec. 14. Family members, friends, and customers can also join us and receive one RED T-shirt apparel item by making a $25 donation. All funds will be used to purchase wreaths for distribution at the veterans’ cemeteries in Augusta on National Wreaths Across America Day, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 15. Wreaths can be sponsored “in honor of” a living veteran, or “in memory of” a fallen hero.

On Saturday, Dec. 8, the Hammond Lumber Company chip trailer will travel to Wreaths Across America’s home office in Columbia Falls to collect the wreaths and participate in the first leg of the Wreaths Across America convoy to Arlington. After making stops along the route, the day will end with a rally at the Augusta Civic Center. The Hammond chip trailer will then return to Belgrade where the wreaths will be stored until they are distributed on National Wreaths Across America day, Dec.15.

On Saturday, Dec. 15, anyone wishing to participate in the convoy and/or laying of the wreaths can gather at Hammond Lumber Company in Belgrade and to visit the Togus National Cemetery in Togus (5,373 headstones), the Central Maine Veterans Cemetery on Civic Center Drive (543 headstones), and the Central Maine Veterans Cemetery on Mount Vernon Road (150 headstones). More information will be forthcoming from the Augusta Area Coordinator as to which sections of the cemetery will be covered. However, if you have sponsored a wreath and have a loved one in any of these cemeteries you may opt to personally place a wreath at their gravesite.

Hammond Lumber Company is also making a donation of in-kind of materials needed to renovate what will be the WAA hospitality house for Gold Star families, veterans and volunteers who wish to visit the WAA headquarters.