WALDOBORO — After the convoy of Wreaths Across America trucks passed through Belfast, Camden, Rockport, Rockland and Thomaston, trucks came to rest at Medomak Valley High School, in Waldoboro, for a ceremony and presentations of wreaths. Greeted by throngs of people, it was a scene that had been replayed town after town as people lined Route 1 to wave and wish the convoy godspeed toward the destination of Arlington National Cemetery.

The convoy was 26 trucks strong when it pulled into the high school. Police cruisers from the state to cities and towns all across Maine escorted them.

The tradition began 25 years ago by Morrill and Karen Worchester. Morrill has been personally delivering wreaths for 25 years and was honored with a special cap by Medomak Valley senior Patrick White recent recipient of the DAR Good Citizens Award.

The cap reads Medomak Valley High School honors 25 years of service by Morrill Worchester.

Neal Lash, who acted as Master of Ceremony for last years ceremony said this year would be just as special.

"We are going to have a very formal, poignant and meaningful ceremony where we will honor veterans since World War II," he said. "They will receive one of the wreaths from Wreaths Across America and then the town officials from five towns will receive a wreath for their towns that will be on display at that town's memorial and one wreath for SAD40 given to the superintendant. There is one special wreath to be placed that is the Missing in Action, POW wreath."

Lash said this was the second year the ceremony had been held at the school.

"We are on the docket for next year," he said. "It's going to be a permanent ceremony for us every year."

The convoy started in the early morning hours in Harrington. With numerous stops along the way, they should cross the Arlington Bridge on Dec. 17. At Arlington they will be met by a crowd estimated at 70,000 plus where they will place wreaths on every headstone in the cemetery.

Oakhurst Dairy supplied a map and live dash cams from inside the trucks to follow the route and track the vehicles from when they left Harrington at 8:30 a.m. to their arrival at Arlington. You can follow them here.

Lind Pease, who is the assistant principal at Medomak Valley, said the school was excited about the arrival of the convoy.

"We are really excited for this to be at our school, it's such an honor," she said. "Students from the school read the names of the 1,880 soldiers who had been lost to Maine from war. They started reading in the auditorium and read every single one."

Members of the Knox County Sheriff's Office, Waldoboro Police Department and Waldoboro Fire Department presented wreaths to veterans and town officials.

Towns receiving wreaths were Friendship, Union, Waldoboro, Warren and Washington. The state of Maine wreath was the final wreath presented to officials of MVHS for their lobby.

The wreaths remember the honor, commitment and sacrifice so many made on the field of battle for freedom.