Civil Air Patrol fundraiser covers cost of wreaths for veterans’ graves

November 27, 2019 | 3:20 am

Updated November 26, 2019 | 5:47 pm

The Owensboro Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Squadron is seeking financial sponsorships to ensure that the grave of each veteran at Resurrection Cemetery can be adorned with an evergreen wreath this holiday season.

Each year, communities around the country gather at their local cemeteries to honor and remember the sacrifices of the country’s fallen heroes by placing live wreaths on the graves of the community’s veterans. In 2018, nearly 1.8 million veteran wreaths were placed on headstones at 1,640 participating cemeteries around the country through Wreaths Across America in honor of the service and sacrifices made by these service members.

Civil Air Patrol volunteers will place wreaths on the graves of veterans during a public Wreaths Across America Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Resurrection Cemetery located just east of Owensboro.

“Groups like the Civil Air Patrol collect money for the wreaths and each group is assigned a particular cemetery,” said Silas Deane, finance officer for the Owensboro Civil Air Patrol Squadron. “The Civil Air Patrol is assigned Resurrection Cemetery. We get a commission for each wreath we sell. We use that money to operate our cadet program and cover expenses.”

Deane said, while the Wreaths Across America fundraiser is their biggest fundraiser of the year, it also teaches the cadets the importance of honoring local veterans who are no longer living.

“We go out with our cadets and place the wreaths on the graves of the veterans and call their names and salute those veterans,” Deane said. “We just try to do as many as we possibly can.”

According to Deane, nearly 600 wreaths are needed this year to ensure each veteran’s grave is recognized.

“Last year it was heartbreaking that we did not have enough wreaths for every veteran’s grave.” Deane said. “We are still short of our goals. This year we hope that every veteran’s grave can receive a wreath.”

The cost for sponsoring one wreath is $15, $30 for two, $75 for five or $150 for 10. For $49 one wreath can be sponsored and an extra one delivered to a veteran’s family member. All donations and sponsorships are due by Monday, Dec. 2.

For more information or to sponsor a wreath, please contact Silas Deane at 270-302-0082 or [email protected].  Donations can also be made here.

November 27, 2019 | 3:20 am

Share this Article

Other articles you may like