A local service group will pay tribute to more than a thousand veterans this year at Maine cemeteries.
The Aroostook County Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol, a youth and adult group modeled on military service, is raising funds to buy evergreen wreaths for veterans’ graves in Caribou, Presque Isle and Augusta in December.
Their efforts are part of the nationwide Wreaths Across America program, which started 32 years ago when a Maine wreath maker donated 5,000 wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. The tradition grew across the country and beyond, and last year volunteers placed more than 3 million wreaths.
Civil Air Patrol added its second Aroostook County cemetery last year, and this year will spread the tribute to the Togus Veterans Cemetery. They’ve raised enough so far to buy nearly 1,100 wreaths, said 2nd Lt. Kelly Mierzwa, the squadron’s public relations officer and an adult member.
“We’re not military, but we’re an auxiliary of the Air Force, and we honor our veterans as often as possible,” Mierzwa said. “The Wreaths Across America motto, ‘Remember, honor, teach,’ is a very big part of what we do.”
Mierzwa and other adult members work with cadets to raise funds through wreath sponsorships. They set a goal to grow from last year’s 700 wreaths to 1,000 this year, she said.
For several years the group laid wreaths at Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery in Caribou, and last year included Presque Isle’s Fairmount Cemetery for the first time. This year they want to send about 200 wreaths to Togus, and are still collecting sponsorships.
The wreath effort started in 1992 when Merrill Worcester of Worcester Wreath Company had surplus wreaths and donated them to Arlington National Cemetery. He wanted to do more. The Worcester family, veterans groups and other supporters created Wreaths Across America in 2007, according to the organization’s website.
The program aims to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach the next generation what freedom means. Wreaths Across America offers lesson plans for schools and has a mobile educational exhibit that travels around the country. “Wreaths Across America Radio, a Voice for America’s Veterans,” is available online.
This year’s theme, “Live with purpose,” draws inspiration from stories about volunteers and their inspiring work in their communities, Wreaths Across America Executive Director Karen Worcester said.
“I listened to people who had gone through great adversity, and they’d taken that adversity and turned it around as a call to action to spend the rest of their lives making sure that every day was meaningful and that they lived with purpose,” she said. “For me, living with purpose is a mindset.”
Trucking companies and volunteers form a convoy to take the wreaths to Arlington. A Patten family participated in 2023.
National Wreaths Across America Day takes place this year on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Remembering and honoring veterans hits home for the local cadets, since most are related to or know active military personnel, Mierzwa said. Many adult members also are or have been service members themselves or have spouses involved.
Squadron participants learn about the military but also focus on community service. They participate in emergency training, local radio groups and have even aided search and rescue efforts.
Participating in the wreath project teaches them why the sacrifice of freedom is so important. It honors the fallen, but also lets the living know they will not be forgotten, Mierzwa said.
In the end, it involves more than decorating graves. The cadets salute and say the name of each veteran aloud.
“Some of the veterans in the cemetery don’t have local family,” she said. “We make sure their name and rank are said out loud and remembered every year. It is the least we can do for all they have done for us.”
Volunteers are welcome and wreath sponsorships are still available. To learn more, visit the County Composite Squadron’s Wreaths Across America page.
