December 12, 2009, Dallas Ft. Worth National Cemetery ceremonies for the annual Wreaths Across America were held at 11:00 hours. It was a cool overcast day with scattered rain with approximately 100 people gathered to honor veterans.
Members of the Irving High School Marine Jr. ROTC were on hand to serve as honor guards. Participants included the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), Crusader Composite Squadron and their cadets conducted the ceremonies.
Wreaths were presented to honor each branch of the military including the Merchant Marines, POW and MIA soldiers.
Presenters:
Army – Capt. (veteran) Clint Bond
USMC – MSgt. Doug Compton
USN – CAP CADET CA1C Samantha Hutto
USAF – CAP CADET CSSGT Ryan Pigeon
USCG – Lt. Billy Buck
USMM – ESGN. Tom Ludlum
POW & MIA – CAP CADET Capt. Robert Severance
After the ceremonies the crowd gathered around various distribution points and began to place a wreath with a single red bow at tombstones of our fallen.
More information:
The Wreaths Across America, story began over 18 years ago when the
Worcester Wreath Company from Harrington, Maine initiated a tradition of
donating and placing wreaths on the headstones of our Nation’s fallen heroes at
Arlington National Cemetery. Recognition of the service and sacrifice of our
veterans, and their families, is especially poignant during the traditional holiday
season.
Worcester Wreath Company continues to be a major supporter of the project,
donating over 25,000 total wreaths in 2008. Over 100,000 wreaths will be
sponsored by individuals, businesses, and groups from communities Nation-wide.
Wreaths will be placed in all 50 states from Maine to Alaska and Hawaii, at
several locations is Iraq, and at 24 national cemeteries on foreign soil.
For people who wish to support the project, wreath sponsorships are available
online. A complete list of participating locations is available on the website at
www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 58,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 72 lives in fiscal year 2009. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 23,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years.”
Video Production:
Music
US Army Field Band
Greensleeves
Silent Night
Video
USFallen.org
Jerry Castillo – Producer
