Hello-Hello, and thank you for coming to visit on a day that still seems to have a pall; a nagging sense at the back of the mind that everything is not okay, that for many Christmas and Hanukkah were taken this year and will never be the same. Gifts were bought and trees decorated. Parties were planned. There are toys that were ready to go under Christmas trees. Now they are having funerals.
So it seems like a good day to share a few things that might boost spirits, and another of our little gift guides. Our first item is about the volunteers of Wreaths Across America. The organization was started in 1992 when the owner of a Maine wreath company had extra inventory, he asked officials at Arlington Cemetery if he could put the wreaths on the graves there. They said ‘yes’ and now wreath-laying ceremonies happen in all 50 States.
Saturday was Wreaths Across America Day.
AP via Huffington Post
Wreaths were placed on graves at 230 national and state veterans’ cemeteries all over the country. Below, David Galloway with the Scottish American Military Society lays a wreath at Prescott National Cemetery in Arizona.
Matt Hinshaw/The Daily Courier
Another look at Arlington on Saturday.
Wreaths Across America Facebook
You can learn more by visiting the Wreaths Across America website, or the group’s Facebook page.
Our other tidbit is more of a link, one that many may have already seen in one of the mulitple variations now circulating. This one is on Buzzfeed and titled “26 Moments That Restored Our Faith in Humanity This Year.” It is just as it sounds, below, the first item shared.
Via Buzzfeed
That’s “The parents who made their son’s wheelchair into the best Halloween costume ever.” Another on the list, the free medical help offered to strangers after Hurricane Sandy.
Via Buzzfeed
Click here to see the entire Buzzfeed list, being reminded of the good in people was a boost. I don’t know about you, but I needed to see this.
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Finally, a quick look at last minute giftables from the Princess.
PreppyPrincess.com
- Our exclusive Needlepoint Cuffs ($48) from York Designs
- The Ready To Go phone cases (18.50) by the Preppy Planet
- Lilly Pulitzer Koozies ($6)
- Lilly Pulitzer Thermal Travel Mugs ($14.50)
- Snoozies Pink & Green Whales ($12) keep your toes toasty warm!
- Preppy Magnet Packs ($10) come in all sorts of patterns
- Sloane Ranger Totes ($38)
I have been subscribed to your blog for about 6 months now. I am always impressed by how you present all topics with care and compassion.
Truly a joy.
I live in Waterloo, Iowa and my husband in a skydiver who does videos/photography of the sport. This past summer a group showed up at the Vinton, IA drop zone all sporting ‘Team Taylor’ t-shirts. They said they were making the jumps for their friend/sibling who had been wounded in Afghanistan – it hadn’t sunk in who the “Taylor” in “Team Taylor” actually was. Because videos/photos of jumps can be pricey, a woman of the group asked several photographers how much just the stills would be and was told the going rate. My husband overheard her request and said not only would he do the stills but she could have video too and he’d do it for free. To say she was grateful was an understatement. When my husband got home that night he told me the story and I said, ‘you’re not talking about Taylor Morris are you?’ and he said , ‘yeah, that sounds about right’. I said, OMG, you have no idea the sacrifice that young man has made and the long road of recovery he has ahead of him.
The video and disk of stills were mailed off on Monday and shortly thereafter my husband received, from Taylor’s sister, the most amazing long letter of thanks. My husband doesn’t save letters/cards etc but he’s kept that one.
We were moved to tears today with your post that included the 26 Moments That Restored Our Faith in Humanity This Year, especially #25. Thank you.