Local Civil Air Patrol unit participating in wreath-laying salute to veterans

RED OAK, Iowa — Members of Civil Air Patrol’s Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron are proud to partner with Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit initiative that recognizes the courage and sacrifices of U.S. veterans by placing wreaths on the graves of the fallen during the yearend holiday season.

“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 participate each year to help us do just that, and, with CAP’s help, this project has continued to see remarkable growth.”

This year, in tribute to the 25 million men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces — guarding and preserving America’s freedom throughout history — wreaths from Worcester Wreath Co. in Harrington, Maine, will be placed on 200,000 veterans’ graves at more than 500 cemetery or memorial sites in all 50 states, as well as 24 foreign locations. Civil Air Patrol is a fundraiser for Wreaths Across America, and its members also lead or participate, often with color and honor guards, in many of the ceremonies at cemeteries and war memorials.

This year the Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron has chosen to work with the Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery near Van Meter, Iowa. The cemetery, which held its groundbreaking ceremony on Veterans Day in 2006, was dedicated on July 3, 2008. The Iowa Veterans Cemetery (IVC) is the first federally funded construction of a state-owned and operated veterans cemetery in the State of Iowa. The cemetery serves the veteran population throughout the state and ultimately will be able to provide burial space for up to 80,000 burials.

Wreaths Across America culminates on Dec. 10 with thousands of wreaths placed on gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery and numerous ceremonies held at many of Arlington’s memorials, including the Tomb of the Unknowns. Several other ceremonies, new this year, will be held later that day, including one at war memorials along the National Mall. Simultaneous ceremonies will be held throughout the day at veterans’ cemeteries and memorials nationwide and abroad.

“Each year, we look forward to the opportunities provided by Wreaths Across America,” said CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Charles L. Carr Jr. “Laying the wreaths is an honor to our veterans, a service to our communities and a learning experience for our cadets and officers.”

Twenty years ago, Morrill Worcester of the Worcester Wreath Co. donated the first wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery, starting an annual tradition that continues today as Wreaths Across America. The initiative began in 2006 as an offshoot of Worcester’s Arlington National Cemetery wreath project. Since its inception six years ago, Wreaths Across America has experienced tremendous growth.

Visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org for more information about Wreaths Across America and participating locations.

Wreaths Across America – Update

Four of our members are out and about today collecting more sponsorships.  To date we are up to 97 wreaths (as of 4pm CST).  While this is a long ways off of the 1000 wreaths that the Iowa Veterans Cemetery needs to be able to lay one at each gravesite, we are proud of our work and truly grateful to the inviduals, businesses and organizations who have graciously contributed to this worthwhile cause.

Thank you.

We will be collecting sponsorships until Thanksgiving so there is still time to help us out.  If you or someone you know would like to contribute, please email jerickson@redoakcap.us or call 888.445.3049 ext. 3.