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Wreath-Laying at Memorials: History and Meaning

Ancient Roots of the Wreath Tradition

The practice of placing a wreath as a symbol of honor is thousands of years old. In ancient Greece, laurel wreaths were awarded to Olympic champions, military victors, and distinguished citizens. The circular shape was seen as a symbol of eternity and achievement. Roman commanders carried on the tradition, presenting grass crowns and laurel wreaths to soldiers who saved their comrades in battle. Over centuries that circular form of tribute moved from athletic and military victories into memorial and funeral traditions across European cultures.

The Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington

The Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia is the most visited war memorial in the United States. The white marble sarcophagus was completed in 1932 and initially held the remains of an unknown soldier from World War I. Unknown soldiers from World War II and the Korean War were added in 1958. The inscription on the tomb reads: 'Here Rests In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God.' The wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns is performed on every major national occasion, including Memorial Day.

How the Wreath-Laying Ceremony Works

Official wreath-laying ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknowns follow a precise protocol. The wreath is carried by a military bearer on the left arm, with the top of the wreath at shoulder height. After the wreath is placed, the bearer steps back and a bugler plays Taps. Attendees stand at attention or salute during the 24-note bugle call. The ceremony is often performed by the President of the United States on Memorial Day, accompanied by the Secretary of Defense and members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Poppies: The Flower of Remembrance

Red poppies became a symbol of World War I remembrance after Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote the poem 'In Flanders Fields' in 1915. The poem describes red poppies growing over the graves of fallen soldiers in Belgium. By 1920, poppies were adopted as the official flower of remembrance in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. American veterans sell paper poppies to raise funds for disabled veterans, and wreaths used at Memorial Day ceremonies often include red poppy blossoms as a deliberate reference to that wartime symbolism.

Decoration Day and the First Wreath Traditions

Memorial Day began as Decoration Day in 1868, and the original practice was exactly that: decorating the graves of Civil War soldiers with flowers, flags, and garlands. Participants walked through cemeteries placing greenery and blooms on individual graves, a practice that transformed into the wreath tradition as more formal ceremonies developed in the 20th century. Many communities still hold wreath-laying events at local war memorials on Memorial Day morning, before the larger public observances and parades begin.

State and National Wreath Programs Today

Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization that places holiday wreaths at veterans' graves at more than 4,000 locations across the United States every December. While that program focuses on the winter holiday season, it draws on the same tradition of visible, physical tribute that began with Decoration Day. On Memorial Day itself, the official wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns is broadcast nationally and draws tens of thousands of visitors to Arlington. Local communities replicate the ceremony at their own veterans' memorials, keeping the wreath-laying tradition active in towns of every size.