Wreath ceremonies to honor veterans Dec. 15

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MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) --  Veterans' memorials and gravesites across the nation will be adorned with remembrance wreaths on Dec. 15 in stirring, solemn tributes to the courage and sacrifice of those who have guarded and preserved the nation throughout history.

Through Wreaths Across America, Civil Air Patrol members join with Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine, in remembering the nation's departed veterans. CAP units will lead 132 of the 268 observances this year, and will participate with other color and honor guards in approximately 25 additional locations.

This year, for the first time ever, members of the public sponsored placement of 16,500 wreaths on veterans' graves across the U.S., with more than 4,000 of those sponsored through CAP. These wreaths will be placed during ceremonies in all 50 states. Worcester Wreath Co. donated 15,644 wreaths, 10,000 of which will be placed at Arlington National Cemetery. In all, 32,144 wreaths will adorn cemeteries and memorials through Wreaths Across America.
 
After a sendoff ceremony Dec. 9, the 10,000 remembrance wreaths designated for Arlington will make a 750-mile journey from Harrington, Maine, and arrive in the D.C. area Dec. 14. The route will become perhaps the longest veterans' celebration ever as patriotic Americans, veterans groups and other local organizations plan to show their support for the project with parades and ceremonies at more than 20 stops along the way. 

The convoy will include two CAP vans from the Maine Wing for the entire journey, and two CAP units from Maine -- the 75th Composite Squadron of Machias and the 76th Composite Squadron of Calais -- will escort the wreaths through the state, as well as help decorate the wreaths at Worcester Wreath Co. 

The wreaths also will be escorted by as many as 700 motorcyclists from the Patriot Guard Riders, an organization of more than 122,000 members whose primary mission is to attend the funerals of fallen heroes nationwide. 

The Arlington wreath-laying ceremonies are scheduled to commence at 9 a.m. Dec. 15, culminating with a nationwide ceremony and moment of remembrance at 12 p.m. All Wreath Across America participants nationwide will adorn veterans' graves with remembrance wreaths concurrently with the Arlington celebration at 12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. 

Kansas City CAP Composite Squadron leaders, Capt. Charles B. Wright, commander, and 1st Lt. Cathy Metcalf, deputy commander for cadets, will join CAP Interim National Commander Brig. Gen. Amy Courter in laying wreaths at Arlington. The squadron leaders gained this honor as a result of outstanding performance in obtaining Wreaths Across America sponsorships.

Also, on Dec. 15, at 10:30 a.m., a CAP detail will hold a wreath-laying ceremony at the Air Force Memorial, which will include remarks from General Courter and Department of Veterans Affairs representative Steve Muro, director of the VA National Cemetery Administration's Office of Field Programs.
 
In addition, on Dec. 10, 51 wreaths will be donated for a special wreath-laying ceremony at each state capital, as well as a special 36-inch ceremonial wreath for the nation's capital. 

"Our mission is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach our children the value of freedom," said Karen Worcester, Wreaths Across America executive director. "Thousands of CAP members last year participated and helped us to do just that, and this year's Wreaths Across America promises to take this worthwhile endeavor to even greater heights."
 
"Wreaths Across America is a exceptional way to honor our veterans who helped preserve the freedoms we as Americans hold dear and too often take for granted," said General Courter.  "Through the community involvement of our members in Maine, Civil Air Patrol has been involved with the Arlington remembrance ceremony for several years. We take great pride in helping Worcester Wreath Co. make this remembrance program a memorable national event this holiday season."

Wreaths Across America began in 2006 as an offshoot of the Arlington National Cemetery wreath project, which was started in 1992 with the annual placement of wreaths donated by Worcester Wreath Co.  Wreaths Across America ceremonies were conducted largely by CAP wings and squadrons with the help of veterans' organizations; private citizens; the Maine State Society of Washington, D.C., which annually assists with the laying of wreaths at Arlington; and the Patriot Guard Riders. 

In its first year, Wreaths Across America wreath-laying ceremonies were held at more than 240 national and state veterans' cemeteries across the country and in Puerto Rico.

Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and has more than 58,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 105 lives in fiscal year 2007. 

Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 65 years. 

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