Pelion, S.C. – WP Rawl, the premier grower, processor and shipper of leafy greens honored service members both past and present this holiday season.
In November, the company celebrated over 25 veteran team members with a patriotic themed Veterans Day lunch celebration. The team members were greeted by WP Rawl family members and leadership. During the lunch, each veteran was presented the opportunity to discuss their time served, what branch they served and length of service. The highlight of the event was hearing stories from the veterans’ years enlisted.
“It was an honor to celebrate WP Rawl team members at our first Veterans Day luncheon.” said Ashley Rawl, vice president of sales, marketing and product development. “It was our small way to say “thank you” to the brave men and women who risked so much for the freedoms we enjoy each day.”
On Saturday, December 18, 2021, WP Rawl participated in Wreaths Across America Day for the sixth straight year. This year, the non-profit also marked its 30th year of honoring fallen military. Thirty years ago, wreath maker Morrill Worcester found himself with a surplus of 5,000 wreaths during the holiday season. Worcester saw the surplus as an opportunity to pay tribute to our country’s veterans and arranged for the wreaths to be placed at Arlington National Cemetery. This annual tribute to our country’s veterans has continued ever since, touching the lives of millions of veterans’ families and volunteers and growing in scope through the years.
WP Rawl drivers traveled from Pelion, South Carolina to Columbia Falls, Maine to pick up over 10,800 fresh evergreen wreaths to be placed on the headstones of veterans – a symbol used for centuries to recognize and honor the fallen – at two South Carolina National Cemeteries.
Each year National Wreaths Across America Day takes place in over 1,600 locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea, and abroad continuing the tradition by participating in annual wreath-laying ceremonies.
Beaufort National Cemetery held a parade on Saturday with thousands of onlookers as trucks delivering wreaths were escorted into the cemetery. WP Rawl driver and Army veteran, Craig Ruff drove the beautifully wrapped Wreaths Across America trailer for WP Rawl. “Again, it was an honor as a veteran to retrieve a load of wreaths from Maine and then to deliver them to the national cemetery,” said Ruff. “I was able to share the experience with my wife this year, and that was very special to me. Already looking forward to next year!!”
WP Rawl has supported the Wreaths Across America organization throughout the years by donating services, sponsoring wreaths and sending employees who volunteered to lay wreaths on fallen veterans’ graves.
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About WP Rawl
Dating back to 1925, WP Rawl is a fourth generation family farm which has grown to become a grower/shipper/processor, specializing in year-round bulk and value-added leafy greens and vegetables in the Rawl®, Nature’s Greens® and Palmetto Gardens® brands.
