Beth Sattizahn of Robesonia made a career of helping our country’s veterans. Nearly a decade ago she spent a day volunteering with Wreaths Across America at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, and that good deed has led to a full-time effort to remember and honor our nation’s heroes.
Q: How did Wreaths Across America get its start? The Worchester family, of the Worchester Wreath Company in Maine, founded the organization more than 25 years ago. That year they had an excess of more than 1,000 of their live balsam wreaths, and they wanted to do something with them as a family that would make a difference. So, they contacted Arlington National Cemetery to get permission to place them on our veterans’ graves. It grew from a family tradition into something much bigger, and eventually the family formalized the nonprofit with the mission to remember the fallen, honor those who still serve and their families, and teach our future generations about the value and price of freedom.
Q: When did you get involved? I was invited on a motorcycle ride about 10 years ago in December to the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery by my friends at Iron Horse Helpers, and we placed live wreaths on veterans’ graves. Two years later, I was asked to the sing the National Anthem there for National Wreaths Across America Day and got involved with placing grave-specific requests. I did that for several years until I got involved in coordination; last year I became the official Volunteer Location Coordinator for Indiantown Gap, so now I’m running the show there. I’m also a member of the SWAT – Special Wreaths Advisory Team – helping to train people, speak about the organization and be a peer for other location coordinators. The whole mission is very near and dear to my heart because I worked for the military for several years.
Q: What was your role with the military? I worked as a contractor in family programs for the Pennsylvania National Guard. I got to know families and make very dear friends, and to this day I still follow and support them. I also volunteer for the USO at Fort Indiantown Gap and a local National Guard unit. I have a heart to support our military, and I’m proud to have family and friends who have signed on the dotted line to serve this country.
Q: How can people get involved? Folks can sponsor a wreath for $15, as well as volunteer to help place wreaths on graves. WAA can also be used as a fundraiser, which can be very key for like-minded veteran and scouting groups or religious organizations. For every sponsorship they raise, they earn $5 back. Wreaths Across America has given back more than $12 million to fundraising groups since its inception to help them further like-minded missions.
Q: All this coordination sounds like a full-time job! I probably work more hours volunteering at this than I do my full-time job! But you know what? It’s rewarding. When a family thanks me for remembering and honoring their loved ones it makes all of the hours worth it.
DID YOU KNOW?
A Day of Remembrance. Every December more than 2,200 cemeteries across the country hold a Wreaths Across America Day ceremony to remember and honor our veterans and active duty military. Find a location and get involved at wreathsacrossamerica.org.
Local Pride. As many as 8,000 volunteers have reported to Indiantown Gap National Cemetery to place wreaths the day of the ceremony, and for the last two years the organization has raised enough support to place a wreath on every one of the 41,000 graves at the site.
