History

U.S. nurses honor Jane A. Delano, beloved leader of the American Red Cross Nursing Service, who died on duty in France in 1919, by placing a wreath at her grave in Arlington on Memorial Day. Rooted in ancient tradition, the wreath’s unbroken circle and evergreen form symbolize eternal life, remembrance, and sacrifice - turning this quiet act into a powerful promise that service and sacrifice are never forgotten.

The tradition itself is far older than the ceremony shown here, tracing back to pagan, pre-Christian cultures that used evergreens and circular forms to represent continuity and renewal. Over time it was adopted into Christian memorial practices, and in the modern era has become a widely recognized gesture of collective remembrance - especially in honoring veterans - where wreaths, often adorned with red ribbons symbolizing blood and sacrifice, serve as enduring expressions of memory and gratitude of sacrifices across generations.