Wreaths Across America - Who Participated?

[Lancer]

Who participated is a Wreaths Across America ceremony today? How was your turn out? Good media coverage? Just curious to see how things went for other squadrons participating.

I think ours went very well considering preemptive press releases to the local media still did not garner any preliminary news coverage (at least in the papers). I was told that one TV station mentioned it this morning.

We tagged an active duty service person from each branch to lay their respective services wreath as well as a member of the VFW to lay the POW/MIA wreath. Our Army and Navy reps were early, our Marine rep double timed it down the road to make it right as we started and our Coastie rep showed up three minutes into it, but just in time to lay the wreath. The person we had from the Air Force did not show up and we were fortunate enough to have the Asst. AG for Veterans Affairs in Michigan, BG Carol Ann Fausone lay the Air Force wreath.

After the ceremony was done BG Fausone spoked with our cadets for a while and posed for photos, a real treat for the cadets having a General take time out of their day to thank them for doing this.

I'll post a couple photos when I get home from work, and if anyone else has photos or links to their local news with stories about their squadrons involvement, please post them.

Semper Vi!

[fyrfitrmedic]

 My home unit participated; we were joined by members of our local VFW post as well as some WWII veterans who'd heard about the event and showed up with family members. We were joined by a bugler who regularly assists with veterans' funerals.

Media turnout was very light; local media outlets were contacted but the only media rep in attendance was a reporter for a neighborhood paper near the cemetery.

The cemetery where our local observance took place was an old veterans' cemetery on the fringe of Philadelphia [and about 25 miles from my unit's home], mostly known for being the resting place of Mexican War veterans and men who fought on both sides of the Civil War.

In my opinion, what we had went very well. We have copious notes regarding how to build upon this year's observance, but this year was both a fitting and constructive start IMHO.

[mawr]

Alabama Wing had two participants.  I've only recieved one report which I've pasted below.

Gentlemen,

Today was the first ever Wreaths Across America for CAP.  At Fort Mitchell National Cemetery, we had a decent amount of people show up, around 30 or so.  We had WRBL 3 and WTVM 9 on scene and did some nice shots of the ceremony.  It will air tonight, and be on their websites by tonight/tomorrow.  We also had a garden club donate 50 artificial wreaths with bows on them.  We had the guests take two each, place them on a headstone, and write down that person's information so they could research them later that day.  We also handed out a lot of recruiting material, and WRBL 3 would like to do a feature story on the Civil Air Patrol soon.  They have my contact information.

Overall, mission successful.  We are looking forward to making it even bigger next year.

//Signed//

Christopher A. Tate, Capt, CAP
Commander
SER-AL-113

EDIT: to add a link to one of the stories http://wtvm.com/Global/story.asp?S=5816956&nav=menu91_1
Edit #2: a link to a story on the lay of Wreaths in Mobile http://www.fox10tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5816758

[Chris Jacobs]

My squadron did something, but i wasn't there because i had a final.

[badger bob]

Wisconsin participated at all three state veterans cemeteries, one federal veterans cemeteries and one of our state veterans memorials. At my location, we had particpation by the American Legion and the VFW.
I had a number of volunteers to offer to place wreaths at all 5,000 veterans gravesites.
many had looked at the Wreaths Across America website picture of the wreaths on the tombstones at Arlington.

A very good program

[RiverAux]

It was just featured at the tail end of the (nationside) ABC nightly news.  They might put it on their website. 

[DrDave]

Group II of the Missouri Wing participated in the ceremony at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery -- the second largest veterans cemetery after Arlington.  I officiated.

We had over 40 people in attendance with representatives from both the Patriot Guard Riders and the Vietnam Veterans Association.  We had several homeschooled children in attendance also (something to remember for next year, that homeschool kids can attend easier than regular school kids.)

Weather was excellent, clear and warm but a bit windy.  No wreaths fell over, however, they were firmly wired to the stands and the stands pushed into the ground.  (I didn't have a person place each individual wreath as others have done.)

No media was there, unfortunately, despite being invited.  Will followup with our own article with photos to the local newspapers.

Afterwards, several CAP officers visited the nearby grave of Lt. Blassie, who was the unknown soldier from the Vietnam War who was buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington until identified by DNA testing.

Maj. (Dr.) David A. Miller
Group II Commander, Missouri Wing

[BlueLakes1]

Falcon Composite Squadron, GLR-IN-126, took the lead on the ceremony at New Albany National Cemetary in New Albany, IN. Cadets from Falcon, Grissom Cadet Squadron (INWG) and KyANG Composite Squadron (KYWG) participated as members of the 12th Wing Honor Guard, as well as honor guards from the VFW and NJROTC.

Media coverage was light, from a new TV station locally and the New Albany newspaper, but the ceremony went very well and we anticipate better media coordination and participation next year.

[MIKE]

Around The Services mentioned Civil Air Patrol in their story on Wreaths Across America.  I saw it this afternoon as rebroadcast on The Military Channel.

[RiverAux]

CBS early show did a 5-minute story on it.  You can see the video on their web site.  Plenty of shots of CAP cadets though CAP wasn't mentioned. 

[drcomm]

Our squadron, Starbase Composite Squadron, OK-151 participated in the Tulsa, OK area.  We had some great coverage on two of the local TV stations and two of the local radio stations.  Here is a link to one of them...

http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=116386

And a video link...

http://www.kotv.com/e-clips/?id=4210

We plan to participate again next year.

[thefischNX01]

My squadron hosted a contingent from Maine Wing and escorted the National Commander around.  We laid wreaths at Arlington National Cemetary. 

It was fun.  Despite his faults, General Pineda is a very personable individual

[smj58501]

Ours went very well. Our squadron PAO did a great job lining it all up, and the ND National Guard was extremely supportive. A link to the news story is below:

http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_video.asp?news=4133

[CAP428]

I think this is the CBS program mentioned above.  Like the other poster said, CAP is not mentioned but you can clearly see CAP cadets participating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZHLdVTidtQ

[sdcapmx]

The Sioux Falls Composite Squadron led the ceremonies in Sioux Falls, SD and it was a great ceremony.  See this news link.  http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?Id=0,53181