Team WAA 2019

On December 14th I attended Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery for the eleventh straight year. This is an annual event where Christmas wreaths are placed on graves in more than 1,500 cemeteries in the United States and places around the globe where Americans are laid to rest. Last year Normandy was included, this year, Belgium and the Netherlands. It’s a special time for me to connect with some of the people and players that make WAA happen. It’s emotional, fun, exhausting and celebratory.

Inside each of us is a story. We all have one. How we learn about each other’s story is first by asking and then by listening. I have come to know the stories of many people who make the annual trip to Arlington for Wreaths Across America. There are character changes from year to year, but mostly there’s a core group. I would like to introduce you to some of these people.

Morrill Worcester: Founder of Wreaths Across America and owner of Worcester Wreath Company. He humbly refers to himself as “just a wreath maker from Maine.” If providing 2.2 million wreaths for 2,153 cemeteries, is being “just a wreath maker,” then that river that runs 2,300 miles through ten of these United States is nothing more than a back road creek. Morrill began delivering wreaths to ANC because of a trip he won to Washington, D.C. as a twelve-year old boy. He was so moved by the hallowed grounds that many years later, as a wreath maker with an excess of 5,000 wreaths, volunteered to place them in honor of the men and women whose names adorn the sea of white tablets. 2019 was the 28th-year WAA has come to Arlington. A mere 254,000 wreaths were placed. The mission of WAA is “Remember, Honor, Teach”. I know of no other business that does this better. I could fill two more pages singing praises about the entire Worcester family, they are the tip of the spear when it comes to kindness, generosity and honoring the fallen and our families.

The Maine State Troopers: Each year they escort the convoy that travels from Maine to Arlington. Their fearless leader is affectionately known as “Cupcake”. The logistics and patience required to successfully pull this off require levels of knowledge, fortitude, resiliency and a host of other acronyms the average person can’t hold a candle to. While this is a team effort, the professionalism of Chief Cupcake to keep chaos at bay is second to none. She and the Troopers that accompany her year after year deserve a medal. I am honored to call them friends. The WAA convoy is referred to as the longest military parade in the country. It has reached lengths of two miles on the interstate. I support the blue line 100-percent and then some.

Carmine: Each year the WAA escort to ANC invites special guests. Carmine has joined them several times in the past and was present again this year. He is one of those rare and magnificent patriots who served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. He is 94 years young, sharp as a tack and warm and welcoming as the Florida sun. There are no other men whose presence I am more honored to be in than the likes of Carmen.

Tony: He is a 20-year veteran of the United States Airforce having served as a firefighting Battalion Chief, Safety Officer and Deputy Fire Chief. He was selected by Schneider Trucking in 2010-11 and 2013 to drive their “Ride of Pride” semi truck for one year. The ROP is a special fleet of trucks designed to be rolling tributes to members of the military, captained by an elite team of Schneider drivers with military experience. Tony has participated in WAA since 2010. He is one of the most patriotic people I know.

Jennifer: This girl’s face should be in the dictionary next to the words selfless and awesome. Yes, both of them. I met her in 2011, which was the first year both of us participated. She gives generously of her time to serve families and friends of the fallen whose loved ones are laid to rest at ANC, making certain all are honored and remembered. I could write a book about her. She has earned a crown for life. I’m pretty sure she wore one in a previous life because she takes her generosity towards others very serious. She is Queen of my heart.

Mark: Mark and Jennifer could be King and Queen for the same manner in which they honor our fallen. His journey with WAA began in 2011 with Jennifer and me. What sets Mark a part is that he escorts the convoy as an active member of the Patriot Guard Riders, on his motorcycle. The post office has nothing on this guy. He (and the other motorcycle escorts) ride in ALL weather; rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow and cold temperatures. Mark has been so moved by the relationships he has built with the Gold Star families on the convoy, he had a custom tattoo done to honor several of our sons. Mark has ridden his motorcycle in all 50 states. His heart is as big as Texas.

Dan: This guy is a security and logistical maven. He has displayed his intestinal fortitude on US soil and overseas. Humble (and funny) as the day is long, I won’t go on, except to say his quiet professionalism was earned while serving as an elite member of the 75th Ranger Regiment.

The Ben Kopp Arpin truck: Several years ago, Joe, the VP of a moving company chose to honor my son by adorning the back doors of one of his moving trucks (53 foot semi-truck) with Ben’s face. He had done this the previous year for another fallen ranger. I was able to visit Joe in Virginia three years ago and see the larger than life picture of Ben. This year Joe surprised me by having Ben’s truck deliver wreaths to ANC. It was supposed to go to Quantico, but he worked some magic and had the driver bring Ben to ANC for me. Words cannot adequately describe how my heart felt to see wreaths being handed out and placed from Ben’s truck to a long line of people eager to honor the service of our military. Steve, the driver of the truck, when asked why he’s motivated to support the mission, stated, “Because I’m an American. My father served in the Air Force for 32 years, and my mother served in the Air Force. I come from a military family, and I understand the sacrifices made by military families.” Joe, Steve and Don (a logistical genius who plays a significant role in the convoy and helped Joe work his magic) possess a level of compassion and care that makes my heart smile.

The evening of wreath day a large group of us gathered at a local pub. I met four new friends.
Tom: Although he and I had never met, he was also in his eleventh year of participation.
Kristen: Same as Tom, but in her tenth year.
Sue: Also in her eleventh year. As her and I engaged in conversation, she recalled standing behind me during the opening ceremony in 2009 and listening to the friend I was with share details about mine and Ben’s story. She was flabbergasted to be standing face to face with me.
Gail: A civilian Department of Defense contractor who spent two days traveling home from Afghanistan JUST to experience Wreaths Across America. She has done this more than once.

This mission that God bestowed upon me is a painful one, however, He wrapped it with a giant bow filled with the warmest and best humans. I am fortunate to know these caring people from all over the country. They are fellow Gold Star families, military and law enforcement - the most humble, selfless and patriotic people you will ever meet who share the pain of having hearts broken in the worst way possible and then take that pain and use it’s power to help and to heal others (and one another). Honestly, they are more than friends. They are family.

If the time spent with all of these fine folks wasn’t enough. I was treated to three more, well, actually four.

My dad: The man, the myth, the legend. I was honored to have him with me for the whole experience. It was his first time in Washington, DC since 2009. He wants to make it an annual trip and was a hit with everyone he met.

Chaplain Mike: A chaplain assigned to the 3/75 Ranger Regiment when Ben was actively serving. He hails from the same hometown, met Ben a time or two and spoke at his funeral in Minnesota in August of 2009. He was commissioned in as the Sr. ANC Chaplain on July 18, 2019, the ten-year anniversary of Ben’s death. Mike was generous in spending time with my dad and I. We were able to see Ben’s truck together with his wife on wreath day and share in those emotional moments. His kindness and care are unforgettable.

Beth: The wife of Ben’s Company Commander from 2009. While she couldn’t attend wreaths day, she was able to meet my dad and I the next day for brunch. She brought three Naval Academy students who reside with them on weekends. She said they all wanted to meet me because they have touted me as a “rock star”. One of the students had purchased a copy of Heart of a Ranger for her father for Christmas and was excited to have me sign it. It was wonderful to sit in their youthful energy and laugh together while enjoying a delicious breakfast. I earned a jar of Tupelo Honey from the restaurant manager for my knowledge of it’s rarity. Beth is another one of those people that sit at the tip of the spear. She is incredibly selfless, passionate, and generous. She has been one of my favorite people since the very first time we spoke ten years ago.

Matt: As we were hovering around Ben’s grave on wreath day, a man walked up with determination in his eyes. He ignored the six or so of us that were standing there and immediately knelt on the back side of Ben’s marker to take a picture (I have a small photo holder staked into the ground with his photo inside). I look down and can see in his eyes this means something to him. I ask him, “did you know Ben?” He looks up at me, his eyes grow wide as he almosts gasp, “You’re his mom, aren’t you?” I say, “Yes, I am.” He says, “Oh my gosh! I knew as soon as I saw your face.” He stands up and asks if he can hug me. Of course he can! I ask him again if he knows Ben. He tells me he doesn’t. Said he read one of the books by a sniper whose life Ben saved and googled his name. When he did, he found Heart of a Ranger, ordered it, read it and knew he had to come to Wreaths Across America to honor Ben. He lives in Buffalo, NY. He tells me that Ben and I are his heroes. His eyes well up as he asks if we can take a picture together by Ben’s stone. Of course we can! We chatted for a little while with the friends he had with him. He said he felt like a miracle occured to be able to meet me at that moment. We have stayed in touch. He sent me a picture of his two daughters holding his copy of Heart of a Ranger. He said he is going to come to MN next summer for the Ben Kopp Memorial Ride. A couple nights ago, he sent me a screenshot of his eight-year old daughters iPad. Without any prompting from him, she googled Ben. She asked “what team was Ben Kopp on?” She then showed him what she had done. He told me he got tears in his eyes that she did that on her own.

Google’s answer to what team Ben Kopp was on brought up a photo of him and said he was a rifleman assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Ft. Benning, GA. Truth be told, Ben’s team in the last three years of his life was there. Since July 10, 2009 (the day he was wounded), Ben’s team is all of us. Ben’s team is every person I mentioned in this (longer than usual) blog. Life can be viewed as a play with as many characters as God chooses to weave into our story. Some stay for a reason, some for a season, some for a lifetime. Ben handed the baton off to me to keep leading his team on the human stage. He’s got the Heavenly realm covered. We’re in this together. Whether the old or the new characters, our coming together for Wreaths Across America can only be described as providential. This mission of mine can only be purposed by knowing and sharing the stories of all these wonderful characters. Thank you to one and all. Above all to God, Morrill and Ben for my overflowing cup year after year.

We are all just walking each other Home -Ram Dass

Wishing all of you a happy and blessed new year.