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Honoring Teresa Wade: A Legacy of Dedication to Wreaths Across America

Posted: 11/26/24

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As Asset Management Coordinator Teresa Wade prepares to retire from Heritage Environmental Services next March, we want to pause and honor her contributions, especially her heartfelt dedication to Wreaths Across America. For nearly three decades, Teresa has served Heritage in various roles, but nothing has been closer to her heart than organizing this annual tribute to our nation’s veterans. She has been the driving force behind Heritage’s commitment to Wreaths Across America since 2016, inspiring employees across the company to join her in this meaningful mission.

Teresa’s journey with Wreaths Across America began unexpectedly when a colleague suggested it almost a decade ago. “We had less than a month to prepare,” she remembers, but that didn’t stop her from coordinating the transport of two full loads of wreaths from Maine to local cemeteries. Her efforts ignited a spark within Heritage that has only grown stronger, with employees from Charlotte to Phoenix (and many places in between) stepping up to help honor fallen soldiers each December. “It’s really neat to see people jump in,” Teresa says, “and it’s not just veterans. Everyone seems to have a loved one who served. It touches all of us.”

Throughout the years, Teresa has witnessed the profound impact this initiative has on Heritage’s team and community. Employees across the company now rally together to support Wreaths Across America, volunteering at sites nationwide. “It’s been wonderful to see people from different locations get involved,” Teresa shares. She finds it especially rewarding to see families come together, like the time Senior Staff Accountant Nicole Reinsma brought her family to lay a wreath for her grandfather at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. Teresa’s husband taught them the proper way to lay the wreath, including the tradition of saying the veteran’s name and thanking them for their service. “That was an emotional moment for all of us,” Teresa remembers.

Of course, organizing this effort hasn’t been without its challenges. The logistics of transporting wreaths while keeping up with customer commitments during the busy winter season require immense dedication. “It’s a lot of hard work,” Teresa admits, “but I don’t mind because I love it.”

Teresa doesn’t do it alone – she’s quick to recognize the teamwork involved. Sustainability Leader Joanne Jones has been instrumental in helping her coordinate the many details, and countless Heritage employees have pitched in, whether it’s dispatching trucks, volunteering on-site, or even helping spread the word.

As Teresa prepares for her next chapter, she shares some advice for the next organizer(s) of this initiative: “For the person who takes this on after me, it has to mean something,” says Teresa. “If it doesn’t, it’s going to be hard to keep it going.” Teresa’s passion has driven her, and her example will inspire those who continue this work in her stead.

To honor Teresa’s legacy, we invite you to get involved this year and beyond. You can volunteer to lay wreaths, contribute through our charity raffle, follow along as our team transports wreaths across the country, and take your family to lay wreaths at a local cemetery on December 14. Join us in paying tribute by following #WAA2024 and exploring recaps of previous years:

Heritage blogs from 2022 and 2023
Heritage videos from previous years
Wreaths Across America video featuring Heritage

Thank you, Teresa, for all you’ve done for Heritage and Wreaths Across America. We’re grateful for your years of service, your commitment, and the inspiring example you leave behind. Let’s make this year’s event a memorable one in celebration of Teresa’s legacy.