Squadron honors vets with wreaths

Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Review ^ | Laura Ory

[SandRat]

SIERRA VISTA — Wreaths to remember the fallen, honor those serving and teach the value of freedom were placed at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery Saturday.

Those present joined more then 200 other locations across the United States, 24 veterans cemeteries in foreign countries and on U.S. ships in the seven seas for the Wreaths Across America ceremony.

Civil Air Patrol Airman 1st Class Anthony Petonic, 14, right, stands with fellow patrolmen holding wreaths to be laid during Saturday’s ceremony at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The event is one of many done nationwide in an effort to honor those who served during the holidays. (Mark Levy-Herald/Review)

Seven holiday wreaths representing the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines and the 93,852 men and women whose last known status was prisoner of war or missing in action, were displayed at the ceremony conducted by cadets of the Civil Air Patrol Squadron 107.

“We also want these holiday wreaths to symbolize our honor to those who have served and are serving in the Armed Forces of our great nation and to their families who endure sacrifices every day on our behalf,” said Cadet Commander Wheeler Reece, from the prepared speech.

He also encouraged those at the ceremony to find a veteran’s grave and research their life to learn more about them.

“You will find they were real Americans with families, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles. They were and are more than just a statistic,” he said.

Veterans laid each of the wreaths to represent each of the services, including Petty Officer 3rd Class Ron DeSpain for the Coast Guard, Capt. Steve Jenkins for the Merchant Marines, Capt. Milt Cruver for the Marines, Cpl. Allen Waller for the POW\MIA, Col. Sharon Hamilton for the Army, Master Sgt. Paul Perkins for the Air Force and Chief Petty Officer Alan Greenslade for the Navy.

The event shows veterans that “somewhere they are in someone’s heart,” Cruver said.

‘We’re here to wish them a merry Christmas,” he said. “For the past, present and future.”

Greater Sierra Vista United Veterans Council, the Benson Veterans of Foreign Wars and other groups attended the ceremony to show their support.

Wreaths Across American began in 2006 as an expansion of the Arlington National Cemetery wreath project. The wreath project began in 1992 with the annual placement of wreaths on graves at the cemetery by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine, said CAP 2nd Lt. Michael Stull.

Next year the local CAP squadron will begin soliciting sponsorships to place wreaths for all of the grave sites at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

HERALD/REVIEW reporter Laura Ory can be reached at 515-4683 or by e-mail at laura.ory@svherald.com.