Empathy is the Remedy Foundation has proudly partnered with Wreaths Across America (WAA) since 2021, becoming the official WAA Location Coordinator for Riverside National Cemetery in 2022. Our goal is to ensure that every veteran interred there receives a wreath, a symbol of our enduring gratitude. WAA was founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.

Riverside National Cemetery, the largest and busiest VA cemetery in the nation, serves as a final resting place for over 315,000 veterans. We chose to partner with this cemetery to honor the countless heroes laid to rest here and ensure that their sacrifices are not forgotten. By participating in Wreaths Across America Day, we can show our gratitude and create a lasting legacy of remembrance. Every year, through Wreaths Across America, we strive to place a wreath on every grave. However, with so many heroes laid to rest, we need your help to reach them all.

2026’s theme is “Remember Me”. This year’s theme comes as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the United States, a milestone WAA says calls for renewed focus on the individual lives behind America’s military service. “While we often honor service members collectively, each one has a name, a family and a story,” says Karen Worcester, executive director, WAA. “Their sacrifices are deeply personal, and their stories shape the freedoms we enjoy today.”

The theme draws inspiration from an unexpected source: a line from the film “Home Alone 2.” The quote, “Maybe they don't forget about you, but they forget to remember you,” underscores the importance of actively remembering the individuals who served, especially those whose stories risk being lost to time.

Through ceremonies, education and community engagement in 2026, WAA will work to ensure that service members from the Revolutionary War to today are remembered and their stories continue to be told.

Join us in honoring the heroes laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery. As we place wreaths on their graves, we remember their sacrifice and ensure their legacy lives on.