The Concord Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol is participating in the Wreaths Across America program for the first year. This program honors our veterans buried in Blossom Hill Cemetery with a wreath placed on their graves. We have veterans buried in 13 cemeteries throughout Concord. There are more than 2,200 veterans' graves at the cemeteries. We are hopeful that in the coming years when the program grows we can collect enough money to remember veterans in all of our city cemeteries during this joyful holiday season.
This year will mark the 18th anniversary of Worcester Wreath Co. donating Maine wreaths to adorn the headstones of our nation's veterans at Arlington National Cemetery. In addition to 10,000 wreaths destined for Virginia, Worcester Wreath will again donate seven ceremonial wreaths to more than 350 cemeteries across the country. In 2008, wreath-laying ceremonies were coordinated in 24 foreign cemeteries and aboard Naval ships in all seven seas, and this tradition continues into 2009.
If you can find it in your heart to donate just $15 to this program, you will be rewarded with knowing that one of our city's veterans will be remembered with a beautiful wreath placed on his or her grave.
For a sponsorship form, contact Lt. Col. Mark Varney at concordcap@comcast.net or 496-2388.
Many thanks to Jill McDaniel, cemetery administrator, for her assistance in this program.
