It may seem odd for most to be thinking of December and Christmas as the warmth of summer is on our doorstep, but that is certainly the case for one man, Warrant Officer (ret) Craig McPhee who lives near the nation’s capital, Ottawa.
ListenMcPhee is the president and founder of Wreaths Across Canada.
It’s a non-profit group dedicated to placing Christmas wreaths of remembrance on the graves of Canadian military personnel at a time of year when families typically begin to gather.
Though it may June, and as people start to pull out summer wear from their closets, Mr McPhee is already making the rounds, contacting potential sponsors, planning and organizing for the December ceremonies.
The hope is to have wreaths placed by family members , friends and volunteer citizens, on every military grave in Canada.
The wreaths are placed on the first Sunday in December remaining there through Christmas as an act to show their service and sacrifice is not forgotten.
Inspired by a similar effort in the United States, McPhee put together a volunteer organizing group in Canada a few years ago and began seeking donations to fund the wreaths.
Starting in Newfoundland in 2010, followed by ceremonies at Canada’s national military cemetery, Beechwood, in Ottawa in 2011, the idea has been growing year by year as other local groups join in the initiative.
This year a group in Winnipeg is planning to join the others so that literally tens of thousands of wreaths will be placed this coming December in several provinces.
McPhee says his hope is to eventually get local organizations from coast to coast involved to make it a truly national undertaking.
Through these kinds of events he hopes to get young people to learn more about their shared history and heritage by learning about the efforts of these Canadians of the past to preserve freedom and democracy around the world.
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