Current CAP news

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PRESS RELEASE

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Capt Paula Mangum, WAWG PAO

Overcast skies and freezing temperatures did not deter the more than 50 people that came out for the Wreaths Across America ceremony held at the Mt Tahoma National Cemetery on December 15th. The ceremony, which coincided with remembrances across the nation, began with a moment of silence. Ceremonial Wreaths were then placed by active duty and retired and former military members to honor the fallen in all branches of the military, including the US Coast Guard, US Merchant Marine, and POW/MIA’s. The McChord Composite Squadron Color Guard presented arms as each wreath was placed.

Those in attendance were then invited to place 135 additional wreaths on gravesites in the cemetery. Cadets, family members, veterans – all took a holiday wreath and humbly placed it on the gravesite, rendering a salute to the fallen soldier buried there. Cadets noted the name of the soldier – and remembered.

As the last wreath was laid, a lone trumpeter could be heard playing Taps.

The wreaths, many of them sponsored by members in the community, were sent from Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine. The company has been donating wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery for the last 16 years and last year partnered with the Civil Air Patrol to place wreaths at national and Veterans cemeteries across the nation. This year, the partnership grew to include sponsored wreaths to be placed on the gravesites in much the same way that wreaths have been placed at Arlington.