Woody walked reverentially between the headstones in section 28B of the Tahoma National Cemetery.

He carried a left armful of Christmas wreaths highlighted with a red bow.

His black leather jacket spoke to his military service to the nation.

"I've been coming here since 2008," said the Army veteran who served multiple tours in Iraq.

"Placing these wreaths helps keep my soul at peace."

Boxes and boxes labeled Wreaths Across America and full of wreaths with red bows populated areas of the cemetery.

Woody was one of over 2,000 individuals to turn out last Saturday morning to take part in the Worcester Wreath Company's Wreaths Across America campaign.

His actions can be traced back to 1992.

That's when the Worcester Wreath Company, located in Harrington, Maine, found itself with a surplus of wreaths.  

Morrill Worcester, the owner, realized he had an opportunity to honor America's veterans.

With the aid of Maine Senator Olympia Snow, arrangements were made for wreaths to be laid in Arlington National Cemetery in one of its older sections.

Worcester's actions caught the eye and interest of others as a number of individuals and companies began to help out with transportation and distribution.

Then a photograph in 2005 of the snow-covered wreaths adorning headstones at Arlington deepened the company's efforts and captured the nation's attention.

In 2007, the Worcester Wreath Company formed Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit, to continue and expand its efforts.

By 2008, over 300 locations held wreath-laying ceremonies in every state, Puerto Rico, and 24 overseas cemeteries.

That year, Congress voted that Dec. 13 would be "Wreaths Across America Day."

The ceremony is now held annually on the second or third Saturday of December, and the Wreaths Across America trip from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery has become known as the world's largest veterans' parade.

"The company's mission is our mission here today at this ceremony," commented Capt. Jessica Jerwa, the Washington Wing Director of Public Affairs for the Civil Air Patrol.

"We remember, teach and honor."

Joining the Washington Wing of the Civil Air Patrol at the Tahoma National Cemetery were a Military Honor Guard rifle team and bugler from the Marine Corps Barracks at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, representatives from all of the uniformed services, veterans and their families, and Gold Star Mothers.

"This ceremony is being conducted across the nation," said Lt. Col. William Adam, a chaplain with the Washington Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary.

"Across the nation, over two thousand ceremonies began at exactly the same time; ours began at 9 a.m.; Hawaii's began at 7 a.m.; Arlington National Cemetery's began at noon."

As the simple but elegant ceremony came to an end, Adam asked a favor of those who were going to distribute the wreaths.

"Stop for a moment to remember these heroes," he said, "and perhaps Google them to find out a bit more about them.  Remember them."

For more information about Wreaths Across America, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org.