Remember. Honor. Teach.
The motto of this year’s “Wreaths Across America” program reflects the reasons that the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) became an original partner in the national program. The young people of CAP remember our veterans by obtaining sponsorships for wreaths and laying them on the graves of veterans each December. They honor living veterans by participating in flag ceremonies, distributing thank you cards, and learning military customs and courtesies to respect them. They teach others about the freedoms our veterans have earned for us and about our obligation to honor them.
So to remember, to honor, and to teach, the Crow Wing Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol is asking for help in sponsoring wreaths which will be placed on Dec. 15, at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at Little Falls (Camp Ripley). Crow Wing cadets will present the colors at the ceremony, and join with other organizations in laying wreaths on the graves of veterans and family members.
One wreath sponsorship is $15. A small amount from each sponsorship remains with the squadron to help with training of our young people in cadet leadership, emergency services, and aerospace education, so we appreciate your sponsorship through CAP very much since it provides for honoring the past, but preparing for the future.
The goal is to cover each headstone with a wreath to remember and honor our veterans, and several area organizations work together to accomplish this. The Crow Wing Composite Squadron appreciates sponsorships through their organization, the original group to participate in this program, since it also helps young people achieve their goals for the future. Learn more at WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.
Interested persons may sponsor any number of wreaths or make general donations toward the project by mailing a check (made to Wreaths Across America) to Civil Air Patrol, Att: WAA, 16142 Airport Road, Brainerd, MN 56401. They may also contact Commander Marcel Kobberdahl at 218.534.5418.
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 61,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to nearly 27,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans.
