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MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – In what is now a holiday tradition,
Civil Air Patrol is proud to partner with Wreaths Across America, a
nonprofit organization that recognizes the courage and sacrifices of
U.S. veterans.
“Our mission is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach
our children the value of freedom,” said Karen Worcester, executive
director of Wreaths Across America. “Thousands of CAP members
participated last year and helped us to do just that, and this year’s
Wreaths Across America promises to take this worthwhile endeavor to
even greater heights.”
Through Wreaths Across America, veteran memorials and gravesites,
including Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., will be
adorned Dec. 12 with remembrance wreaths from Maine’s Worcester Wreath
Co. The stirring, solemn tributes honor many of the 25 million men and
women who have served in the U.S. armed forces and guarded and
preserved America’s freedom throughout history.
“Laying the wreaths is an honor to our veterans, a service to our
communities and a learning experience for our members,” said CAP
National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter, who is delighted that CAP
is involved in this patriotic cause.
Since its inception in 2006, Wreaths Across America has experienced
tremendous growth – from 240 ceremonies at national and state
cemeteries in its first year to the 400 expected in all 50 states and
25 cemeteries and memorials abroad in 2009. CAP units will lead almost
half of the Wreaths Across America observances this year and will
participate with other color and honor guards at many additional
locations. CAP cadets and officers will lay wreaths at Arlington as
well.
The founders of Wreaths Across America, Worcester and her husband,
Morrill, owners of Worcester Wreath Co., are donating 17,000 wreaths
for this year’s Arlington ceremonies. The wreaths will be transported
on a 750-mile journey from Harrington, Maine, after a sendoff ceremony
on Dec. 6, and will arrive at Arlington on Dec. 12. The route is one
the longest annual veterans’ celebrations as patriotic Americans,
veterans groups and other local organizations like CAP show their
support for the project with parades and ceremonies at more than 20
stops along the way.
Over the past 10 years, Maine Wing’s 75th and 76th composite squadrons
have been actively involved in Worcester Wreath Co.’s convoys to
Arlington, supplying senior officers and cadets to help load and unload
the donated wreaths as well as helping lay them on the gravestones at
Arlington. In addition, 600 to 700 motorcyclists from the Patriot Guard
Riders – an organization of more than 122,000 whose primary mission is
to attend the funerals of fallen heroes nationwide – accompany the
trucks to Washington, D.C.
Before the convoy begins, Wreaths Across America and its partners will
acknowledge other countries involved in this year’s observances with a
parade and wreath-laying ceremony on Dec. 5 on the International
Bridge, which links the U.S. and Canada. Royal Canadian Air Cadets with
escort America’s Gold Star Mother and Civil Air Patrol cadets from
America will escort Canada’s Silver Cross Mother to the center of the
bridge, situated over the St. Croix River between Calais, Maine, and
St. Stephen, New Brunswick. The Gold Star Mother will present a
Worcester wreath to the Silver Cross Mother for placement at the
Centatoph Memorial Monument in St. Stephen.
In addition to the International Bridge wreath, the Worcesters are
donating 50 wreaths for Dec. 5 ceremonies at each state capitol in the
U.S. And, on Dec. 7, Civil Air Patrol’s National Honor Guard will take
part in a wreath-laying at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., which
also will feature a wreath provided by Worcester Wreath Co.
The 2009 observances on the International Bridge, at Arlington, the
nation’s capitols and across America carry a heightened significance
for Wreaths Across America and the Civil Air Patrol. “This year’s
ceremonies honor the memory of the Maine Wing’s Maj. Dennis W. Murray,
who passed away in September and whose devotion to the Wreaths Across
America program is his legacy,” said Courter. Murray, CAP’s 2008
national Public Affairs Officer of the Year, is credited with helping
link the organization with Worcester Wreath Co. and Wreaths Across
America three years ago. “That partnership has grown exponentially and
CAP has become a major partner,” said Courter.
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. Today, it
is a monumental initiative, with partners like Civil Air Patrol, the
Patriot Guard Riders, the Maine State Society of Washington, D.C., and
other veterans’ groups participating, not to mention the tens of
thousands of private citizens who sponsor wreaths for the wreath-laying
ceremonies.
Wreaths Across America spokesperson Tobin Slaven applauds the
relationship between CAP and Worcester Wreath Co. “It really has been
phenomenal,” he said. “Civil Air Patrol has been a driving force behind
Wreaths Across America’s growth.”
The wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington are scheduled to commence at
8 a.m. EST on Dec. 12 at the CAP Memorial, culminating with a national
Wreaths Across America ceremony and moment of remembrance at 9 a.m.
attended by the Worcesters and other dignitaries from CAP, the Patriot
Guard Riders, the Maine State Society, the Gold Star Mothers, the
American Legion and other veterans’ groups. At that time, Wreaths
Across America participants nationwide will adorn veterans’ graves with
remembrance wreaths concurrently with the Arlington celebration.
Other wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington on Dec. 12 are planned at
the Shuttle Memorial at 11 a.m. and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
at noon. The Arlington observances will conclude at 1 p.m. with the CAP
Honor Guard and Courter laying a wreath at the Women in Military
Service for America Memorial. Afterwards, Courter will host a
distinguished visitors’ reception in the memorial’s Hall of Honor.
Visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org for more information about Wreaths Across America and participating locations.
