FORT BENNING, Ga., (Dec. 18, 2013) -- The Auburn Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, in conjunction with Wreaths Across America and Fort Mitchell National Cemetery, hosted the 7th annual wreath-laying ceremony Saturday.
Even though the wind was blowing and the rain was unrelenting, many citizens, volunteer groups, active duty, reserve and prior military service men and women came out to pay tribute to those who are laid to rest at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery.
Capt. Aaron Swenson, Auburn CAP, was the master of ceremony, while Maj. Gen. Perry Smith, Adjutant General, Alabama, gave the key note address.
Seven wreaths were placed in honor of each of the Armed Services, as well as a special wreath, placed by James Sanders, director of Fort Mitchell National Cemetery, for the more than 90,000 service members whose last known status was either Prisoner of War or Missing In Action since World War I.
Upon conclusion of the ceremony, more than 1,200 wreaths were placed on the headstones of the heroes and their Families who are buried on those hallowed grounds.
If you, your organization or business would like to be a part of the 2014 Wreaths Across America event at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery, visit the Auburn Composite Squadron's Facebook Page and contact a member of the team: www.facebook.com/auburncivilairpatrol, or www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
CAP, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 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 volunteers 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 nearly 27,000 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 71 years.
CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans.
For more information, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com, www.auburncap.org or www.facebook.com.auburncivilairpatrol.
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