Good News
Read the morning paper or watch the evening news and you lose all hope for the human race. It seems we’ve abandoned our sanity, our morals and even sadder, our compassion. But take heart, America. Trash the paper. Power off the flat screen, and read on, because good news is out there!
Morrill Worcester, owner of the 37-year old Worcester Wreath Company (one of the largest suppliers of live Christmas wreaths), lives in the tiny town of Harrington in far northeastern Maine. Worcester is an industrious, hard working, self-made American. He grew up in rural Maine and had a newspaper route not far from where his company is located today. At 12, Worcester won a new-subscription contest that earned him a trip to Washington D. C. Among the sites that made an impression on the young boy was Arlington National Cemetery.
Fast forward now to just weeks before Christmas 1991 when Worcester receives a call from a plant manager telling him that they will have 4,000 wreaths surplus. It didn’t take Worcester long to decide what to do. Borrowing a truck from a neighboring business, he drove the wreaths more than 740 miles south to Arlington, Virginia. He, his son, and couple of volunteers distributed the wreaths among the stark white headstones of the country’s silenced heroes.
The work took hours, but when Worcester stepped back and saw the massive display of green wreaths and bright red bows against the white headstones, he was deeply moved and decided he would make the trip every year, not with surplus wreaths but with 5,000 specially designated for the national cemetery. It was his way of showing gratitude to the men and women who sacrificed their time, and sometimes even their lives for his freedom. For the next 15 years, Worcester made the annual pilgrimage during his company’s busiest time. He did it with little fanfare or notice. His hometown helped; the local boy scouts helped; the Washington Civil Air Patrol and local veterans helped when the wreaths arrived at Arlington. Worcester didn’t advertise the deed; he did it quietly to payback a debt he felt he owed.
Two years ago a photographer happened upon the wreath-bedecked graves shortly after a light snow fall. He snapped the stunning photo, added a poem and posted them to the internet. In short order the image rocketed around the country, inflaming the American spirit and peaking curiosity about the wreaths. Word crept out, and when December rolled around, Worcester’s tiny town was inundated with 300 motorcycle riders (members of the Patriot Guard) to escort the wreaths along the 740 mile trip, along with media from around the world.
The next year Worcester doubled his efforts – sending 10,000 wreaths to Arlington, and establishing a non-profit organization, Wreaths Across America, to help ensure that the men and women who serve and have served this country are recognized at Christmas. Last year wreaths were sent to every National Cemetery in the 50 states, plus 26 sites overseas. His work continues.
Then there is Stan Brock, pilot, adventurer, former Wild Kingdom TV star, and founder of Remote Area Medical (RAM), a nonprofit organization that delivers free (yes, free) health care services to people who otherwise have no access to medical care. While his original intent was to provide help to individuals in remote areas of countries overseas, Brock discovered the huge need right in the United States. Today, 60 percent of his organization’s work is done in the U.S.
Like Worcester, Brock went about the RAM business for 23 years with little fanfare, or notice. RAM headquarters is a 1927 school building leased from the City of Knoxville for $1 a year. Its three planes are donated and include a Douglas C47 that flew on the historic WWII Day-day mission. RAM has six part-time employees who receive small stipends, though Brock, who devotes all his time to RAM, takes no compensation.
A master at stretching the healthcare dollar, RAM can provide quality dental and vision care for as little as $4 per procedure due in large part to the more than 36,000 volunteer doctors, dentists, ophthalmologists, and optometrists, nurses and other medical professionals who have helped, paying their own way, their own hotel and many bringing their own supplies. Since 1991, RAM has provided $37 million dollars in free healthcare and veterinarian services, and it has thrived through the generosity of individual Americans across the country; RAM receives little corporate backing and no government money.
Last year a reporter for the New York Times appeared unexpectedly at a RAM event and later published an 8-page photo spread. CBS saw it, and followed with a segment on 60 Minutes in March of this year. Since that time RAM has been inundated with media coverage, and requests for services, receiving more than 15,000 letters. Brock is already planning to expand his efforts.
There is an old adage that says: what we don’t know won’t hurt us. Worcester and Brock are proof that there is good news to be found. I say, what we don’t know, but should, will inspire us.
Back to Jean's Page
Copyright © 2011 All rights reserved. Can not be reproduced or used without written permission.
Read the morning paper or watch the evening news and you lose all hope for the human race. It seems we’ve abandoned our sanity, our morals and even sadder, our compassion. But take heart, America. Trash the paper. Power off the flat screen, and read on, because good news is out there!
Morrill Worcester, owner of the 37-year old Worcester Wreath Company (one of the largest suppliers of live Christmas wreaths), lives in the tiny town of Harrington in far northeastern Maine. Worcester is an industrious, hard working, self-made American. He grew up in rural Maine and had a newspaper route not far from where his company is located today. At 12, Worcester won a new-subscription contest that earned him a trip to Washington D. C. Among the sites that made an impression on the young boy was Arlington National Cemetery.
Fast forward now to just weeks before Christmas 1991 when Worcester receives a call from a plant manager telling him that they will have 4,000 wreaths surplus. It didn’t take Worcester long to decide what to do. Borrowing a truck from a neighboring business, he drove the wreaths more than 740 miles south to Arlington, Virginia. He, his son, and couple of volunteers distributed the wreaths among the stark white headstones of the country’s silenced heroes.
The work took hours, but when Worcester stepped back and saw the massive display of green wreaths and bright red bows against the white headstones, he was deeply moved and decided he would make the trip every year, not with surplus wreaths but with 5,000 specially designated for the national cemetery. It was his way of showing gratitude to the men and women who sacrificed their time, and sometimes even their lives for his freedom. For the next 15 years, Worcester made the annual pilgrimage during his company’s busiest time. He did it with little fanfare or notice. His hometown helped; the local boy scouts helped; the Washington Civil Air Patrol and local veterans helped when the wreaths arrived at Arlington. Worcester didn’t advertise the deed; he did it quietly to payback a debt he felt he owed.
Two years ago a photographer happened upon the wreath-bedecked graves shortly after a light snow fall. He snapped the stunning photo, added a poem and posted them to the internet. In short order the image rocketed around the country, inflaming the American spirit and peaking curiosity about the wreaths. Word crept out, and when December rolled around, Worcester’s tiny town was inundated with 300 motorcycle riders (members of the Patriot Guard) to escort the wreaths along the 740 mile trip, along with media from around the world.
The next year Worcester doubled his efforts – sending 10,000 wreaths to Arlington, and establishing a non-profit organization, Wreaths Across America, to help ensure that the men and women who serve and have served this country are recognized at Christmas. Last year wreaths were sent to every National Cemetery in the 50 states, plus 26 sites overseas. His work continues.
Then there is Stan Brock, pilot, adventurer, former Wild Kingdom TV star, and founder of Remote Area Medical (RAM), a nonprofit organization that delivers free (yes, free) health care services to people who otherwise have no access to medical care. While his original intent was to provide help to individuals in remote areas of countries overseas, Brock discovered the huge need right in the United States. Today, 60 percent of his organization’s work is done in the U.S.
Like Worcester, Brock went about the RAM business for 23 years with little fanfare, or notice. RAM headquarters is a 1927 school building leased from the City of Knoxville for $1 a year. Its three planes are donated and include a Douglas C47 that flew on the historic WWII Day-day mission. RAM has six part-time employees who receive small stipends, though Brock, who devotes all his time to RAM, takes no compensation.
A master at stretching the healthcare dollar, RAM can provide quality dental and vision care for as little as $4 per procedure due in large part to the more than 36,000 volunteer doctors, dentists, ophthalmologists, and optometrists, nurses and other medical professionals who have helped, paying their own way, their own hotel and many bringing their own supplies. Since 1991, RAM has provided $37 million dollars in free healthcare and veterinarian services, and it has thrived through the generosity of individual Americans across the country; RAM receives little corporate backing and no government money.
Last year a reporter for the New York Times appeared unexpectedly at a RAM event and later published an 8-page photo spread. CBS saw it, and followed with a segment on 60 Minutes in March of this year. Since that time RAM has been inundated with media coverage, and requests for services, receiving more than 15,000 letters. Brock is already planning to expand his efforts.
There is an old adage that says: what we don’t know won’t hurt us. Worcester and Brock are proof that there is good news to be found. I say, what we don’t know, but should, will inspire us.
Back to Jean's Page
Copyright © 2011 All rights reserved. Can not be reproduced or used without written permission.