Squadron Marks 1st Wreaths Across America Salute

Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Brad Berry pauses to honor a fallen veteran.

Charleston Cadet Squadron’s initial participation in the nationwide Wreaths Across America observation went off without a flaw on a frosty but brilliantly sunny morning Dec. 13 at Spring HillCemetery Park.

After a ceremony in which wreaths were placed in honor of the five branches of the service – the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine – and prisoners of war and those missing in action, volunteers placed about 150 wreaths on veterans’ graves at the American Legion Field. For every two wreaths that local residents had sponsored, Civil Air Patrol donated a third.

The ceremony was a cooperative effort by Civil Air Patrol, the city of Charleston, Spring Hill CemeteryPark, the Patriot Guard Riders, American Legion Riders Post 73, American Legion Post 20, the Alum Creek Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter and several other local veterans’ groups.

Maj. Debbie Boggs, the Charleston squadron’s public affairs officer, said the unit began exploring the idea of participating in Wreaths Across America after its information technologies officer, 2nd Lt. Charles Case, “learned of the project in Richmond, Va., and brought the idea back to Charleston.”

“He has been working on this since last spring, but a lot of volunteers contacted us right up until the last minute offering to help, which was great,” Boggs said. “The first time you do something, you need all the help you can get.”

Dignitaries on hand included Mayor Danny Jones, himself a veteran of the Vietnam War, and Richard Andre, chairman of the Spring Hill Cemetery Park Commission. South Charleston High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard posted the colors, veteran Mary Palla sang the national anthem, Alum Creek VFW performed the firing of arms and Air Force Lt. Col. Dale Olson performed taps.

Ariticle by Maj. Debbie Boggs. Photo by Maj. Vickie Bond.