WHO WE ARE
A local tradition began in 2006 when the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery opened outside of Dixon, California, and wreaths were placed on the gravesites at holiday time in honor of our fallen. It is estimated about 346,000 veterans live within the service area of this northern California cemetery and that it would serve the needs of this area for the next 50 years.
Wreath Project Over the Years
About 300 wreaths were purchased in mid-December in 2006 in Vacaville and surrounding communities and the Annual Wreath Project was started by a dozen volunteers.
By the following year, the cemetery had already grown to more than 1,300 grave sites. Letters and press releases went out asking the neighboring communities for donations and help with this new project. The response was overwhelming and the cemetery was entirely covered again.
The 2008 project planning began in late September. We started a letter-writing campaign to previous years' donors, sent letters to our growing email database and sent press releases to all area media outlets. With so many helping to spread the word, another successful collection drive was had and the cemetery was 100% covered again. Even though 2009 was a much bigger challenge economically, the tradition had settled in and people were sending in their annual donations. The highlight of that year was that over 2,000 volunteers came to help on a drizzly, foggy morning to lay 5,000 wreaths... it was truly phenomenal!
In 2010, we contacted a supplier in Oregon, Teufel Holly Farms, and are happy to say that our partnership continues today.
From 2010 - 2019, we continued to have 100% coverage of the cemetery each December with the number of needed wreaths growing from 7,400 wreaths to 26,000 wreaths. In 2011, we started to have one shipment of wreaths delivered to the cemetery one week prior to the public wreath-laying event for those preferring a more private remembrance, which we continue to do today.
In 2020, we made the switch to boughs instead of wreaths due to the pandemic. The support did not stop even though our fundraisers had to be put on hold and we have kept the tradition of 100% coverage going with the last being 35,000 wreaths for the 2024 Project, which was placed on Saturday, December 14, 2024.
It is estimated that we will need 38,000 boughs for the 2025 holiday season.
Each year has presented its own special issues, whether it be financial, logistical, or something else, but every year, the support of this special event boldly outweighs any obstacle.
You can help by spreading the word to your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers! Direct them to the website, sign up for Wreath Project updates via email, support our fundraising events and by attending the bough placement ceremony... it's something you'll never forget!!
Contact information for questions, to book a speaker for your group, or to be added to the email list:
Curtis Stocking: 707.761.3343 or Curtis@GreenFieldsRE.com
Susie Stocking: 707.249.5852 or WreathProject@yahoo.com
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America”, for an amount of “up to, and including my life.” That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.
~ Author Unknown