Plymouth Whitemarsh High School DECA Chapter takes part in Wreaths Across America

To celebrate National Wreaths Across America Day on December 15, members of the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School (PWHS) chapter of DECA had the opportunity to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony to honor veterans buried in Saint Matthew Cemetery in Conshohocken.

“My favorite part was the laying of the wreaths, because you got to physically see the graves and just feel blessed to be in the presence of such bravery and that you contributed to their posthumous honor,” said Courtney Patterson, PWHS DECA Chapter President.

The project came to PWHS through the DECA Chapter Historian, Jackie Arcaro, who became familiar with Wreaths Across America through her after-school job at the local restaurant. Wreaths Across America has a three-part mission: remember fallen United States veterans, honor those who serve and teach children the value of freedom. In December, the group places wreaths on the gravesites of veterans in Arlington National Cemetery and more than 1,400 additional sites in all 50 states, at sea and abroad.

DECA is a club where students work on developing their skills in marketing, finance, hospitality and management, so Wreaths Across America became a fall focus for the PWHS Chapter. Jackie and Courtney used their marketing background to create a promotional campaign for the drive, and the group collected donations at lunches during the week after Veterans Day and continued to solicit sponsors for the wreaths through the first week in December.