Civil Air Patrol Honors Veterans on National Wreaths Across America Day

DANBURY, Conn. - Dec. 26, 2017 - PRLog -- Civil Air Patrol officers and cadets placed evergreen wreaths on the graves of veterans interred in Old Kenosia Cemetery, located in Danbury, Connecticut, on December 16, in recognition and remembrance of their service to the nation. 399th Composite Squadron members were joined by Connecticut State Senator Michael McLachlan, Connecticut State Representative Michael Ferguson (138th General Assembly District), members from the Friends of Danbury Cemeteries and Scout Ryan Posca, from Cub Scout Pack 44.

The 399th participated with 700 Civil Air Patrol squadrons and 1,400 other locations across the country for National Wreaths Across America Day – when citizens come together to remember our fallen, honor those who serve, and teach younger generations the value of freedom. The solemn ceremony, directed by Major Ralph Langham (CAP, NY033), saw cadets escorting dignitaries to marked graves to place wreaths in the cold morning hours. First Lieutenant Christina Posca, 399^th Deputy Commander, noted, "Even though it was cold, it was a warm feeling to come together to remember our veterans."

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization's mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans' cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. For more information, to sponsor wreaths or to sign up to volunteer, please visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.

Members of the 399th Composite Squadron meet on Tuesday's from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Danbury Municipal Airport, 21 Miry Brook Road, Danbury, CT. For additional information visit https://www.facebook.com/399thCompositeSquadron or email to pao@399cap.org.

Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force's Total Force. In this role, Civil Air Patrol operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, performs about 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. Civil Air Patrol's 57,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Civil Air Patrol also plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to 24,000 young people participating in Civil Air Patrol's Cadet Programs. Visit http:// (http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/)www.gocivilairpatrol.com for more information.