Photo: Members of the Gadsden Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol place wreaths on the graves of United States Military veterans in Crestwood Memorial Cemetery during Wreaths Across America Day December 17. (Submitted photo)
Wreaths Across America Day was celebrated across the nation on Saturday, December 17. Gadsden Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol participated in this event at Crestwood Memorial Cemetery.
Second Lieutenant Tawnya Cummings of Albertville and Second Lieutenant Joal Davis of Ohatchee were in charge of the event. Cadets of the Gadsden Composite Squadron and family members of local veterans raised money to place wreaths on the graves of hometown heroes at Crestwood Memorial Cemetery in East Gadsden. They covered 153 graves at Crestwood with ceremonial wreaths.
This year, Wreaths Across America placed wreaths on 2.7 million graves in 24 countries worldwide.
Each wreath was handmade from live balsam fir trees from Columbia Falls, Maine. Founder Morrill Worcester started Wreaths Across America to honor those who have served and are serving in the armed forces, as well as their families who endure sacrifices every day. Each wreath is a gift from a grateful American, remembering not the deaths but the lives of our veterans.
The Gadsden Composite Squadron was honored to join a united front of gratitude and respect across the United States to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach the next generation the value of freedom. This is the reason Wreaths Across America day is held on the third Saturday of each December.
If you would like to have a wreath sponsored, would like more information or want to help the squadron reach its goal of placing a wreath on every hometown veteran’s grave at Crestwood Memorial Cemetery, please contact GadsdenCAP on Facebook. The next Wreaths Across America Day will be celebrated on December 16, 2023.
Submitted by Tawnya Cummings.