News Release: (Ellijay, Georgia) Members of Civil Air Patrol’s 507 Ellijay Composite Squadron are proud to partner once more with Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit organization that recognizes U.S. military veterans who have guarded and preserved America’s freedom by placing remembrance wreaths on the graves of the fallen during the year end holiday season.

“We are able to live as we do because of the sacrifices of these men and women,”

said Lt. Col. Wayne Merritt of Civil Air Patrol’s Maine Wing, who first involved CAP in Wreaths Across America.

“We are able to speak freely and go as we please. We must never stop thanking our veterans. They must never be forgotten.”

By placing remembrance wreaths on the graves of military veterans during the holiday season, Wreaths Across America seeks to remember, honor and teach others about the courage and sacrifices of the men and women who have served in the armed forces. Wreaths Across America culminates this year on Dec. 14 with an estimated 10,000 volunteers placing wreaths on gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery and many of Arlington’s memorials, including the Tomb of the Unknowns. Simultaneous ceremonies will be held throughout the day at 800-plus veterans’ cemetery or war memorial sites in all 50 states, as well as 20 foreign locations.

Civil Air Patrol is the largest group fundraising for Wreaths Across America, and its members also lead or participate, often with color and honor guards, in many of the ceremonies at war memorials and cemeteries held nationwide and abroad. Officers and cadets from nearly 400 CAP squadrons, including the 507 Ellijay Composite Squadron, are signed up to organize National Wreaths Across America Day observances on December 14 in their regions, states and communities.

“CAP members help lead the way by selling wreath sponsorships and coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies,”

said Col. J.D. Ellis, CAP’s 2013 national Wreaths Across America coordinator.

“Like Wreaths Across America, we take pride in honoring those who have served our country,” said Ellis. “This is our way of expressing our appreciation and paying tribute for the sacrifices made for our country by our service men and women.”

The Ellijay Civil Air Patrol squadron will lay wreaths at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia, 14 December 2013. Starting at 8:00AM, volunteers will lay more than 700 wreaths at the Canton Cemetery.
Visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org for more information about Wreaths Across America and participating locations.

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 as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually. Its unpaid professionals also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction 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 26,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. CAP received the World Peace Prize in 2011 and has been performing missions for America for 72 years. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com or www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.
507 Ellijay Composite Squadron contacts: 1Lt Don Murray, 706-273-1553 [email protected]
Capt. Sam Burrell, 706-273-8436 [email protected]