From Matt Mayberry, founder WANH:  "On Saturday December 11, 2021 at 10am, the 2nd Annual Wreaths Across NH will honor our fallen patriots, our veterans. Last year Arlington National Cemetery was going to cancel their wreath laying ceremony due to COVID.  I felt that was wrong.  Luckily Arlington reversed its decision but it cemented mine.  How could I be mad at Arlington when I wasn't doing enough here in Dover NH?  I created Wreaths Across New Hampshire with the ultimate goal to place a Christmas wreath at the headstone of every veteran buried in NH soil. Initially the goal was to lay 600 wreaths. Word spread and support grew and within 3 weeks, we were honored to place over 2000 wreaths at gravesites of veterans across NH.

The recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Ryan Pitts of New Hampshire spoke of duty, honor and Country at that first event.  Over 120 family members and volunteers showed up to help honor our veterans.  In 2020 we had widows and widowers of veterans some going back to World War 2.  We had a family whose young son was killed in Afghanistan and they were moved to tears by the outpouring of sympathy, compassion and the sense of duty.  We had veterans from Korea and Vietnam walk with young active duty members amongst their fallen brothers and sisters, stopping to say their name, wish them a Merry Christmas and present them with this simple gift: a gift of saying their name out loud, placing a wreath upon their eternal resting spot, wishing them a Merry Christmas and many, rendering a salute.

Cellphones were silent, not by request but by the sense of honor and being "in the moment and present".  I witnessed the elderly widow being escorted to her husband's grave by Brigadier General Don Bolduc, her head held high, her stride strong and with pride and duty in the General's eyes.

You will be moved by this simple ceremony, this simple act of sharing. This simple act of caring.   Smiles brought to faces as a young girl in her pink snowsuit covered in snow because she was helping her Dad place wreaths.  Tears brought to my eyes from the note I received from a family in Colorado who couldnt make it back east to honor her father.  She knew we were there.  She knew we cared.  She knew we said Merry Christmas to her Dad.  A grateful Nation continues to honor our heroes.

I could fill pages will stories but I'm asking you to help write the next chapter.  We are suffering from supply chain and labor shortages.  Wreaths are being cobbled together by friends and sold to us at cost.  We don't waste money; every dollar in goes right back out to the cemeteries.  No admin fees, no "rainy day fund" established.  Dollar in, dollar out...no one forgotten.  I fall short every time I can't place just "one more wreath", I apologize to the soldier, airman, sailor or Marine who was "next in line" because I ran out of wreaths (but just until this year, or next year but I'll get to all of them eventually!).  I'm going to share a secret:  last year I carried one nip of whiskey in my pocket.  When I ran out of wreaths, I poured the shot onto the grave of the one I couldn't get to (happened to be in Rollinsford) and said "Merry Christmas (their name) and I will see you next year."

Based on the success of last year, we are hoping to reach 3000 (secretly 4,000 wreaths...but that's our secret). Wreath laying will begin at 10am on December 11th.

 Please consider sponsoring a wreath. Any remaining money (funds that come in after December 11th) will go to supporting the Hammers for Veterans Foundation. Hammers for Veterans is a NH non-profit that helps low income Veterans, who live in NH, stay in their homes by arranging for them to get necessary home repairs; all at zero cost to the veteran. This November alone, we have helped 3 veterans with new roofs, helping a Navy nurse veteran get insulation for her manufactured home and working on rebuilding a bathroom so a proud Marine can get into his own bathroom and not have to use a portable toilet in the corner of his living room.  To date, Hammers for Veterans has helped 34 low income veterans age in place with honor and dignity. 

We honor veterans who have passed and those who are still with us.

In 2021, we hope to lay wreaths in 8 New Hampshire communities:  Dover (Pine Hill Cemetery and St. Mary's), Rollinsford, New Durham, Newmarket, Epping, Barrington, Wolfeboro and Raymond...but only if we can reach our unstated goal of 4,000 wreaths.  We will go as far as we can with the dollars we raise and next year we will reach further.  Thank you for helping us"

 This will be the largest wreath laying ceremony at a civilian cemetery in NH.

Contact Matt Mayberry 603.969.7077 mattmayberrynh@gmail.com if you have questions, comments or suggestions.  Matt Mayberry is a decorated Air Force veteran.

The Live Free or Die Chapter of the Nam Knights have partnered with us for this great event.  You can also sign up to volunteer below also.

Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted.

Thank you!