National Observances in the Gardens of Stone

Saturday, 06 December 2008 18:45

Newsbrief - Monmouth County

McGuire Air Force Base, NJ -  On Saturday December 13^th, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) officers and cadets will lead members of veterans and civic organizations and local Government officials, as they have for the past three years, in placing memorial wreaths at over 350 Veterans cemeteries and monuments across the United States. At Arlington National Cemetery, CAP members will help decorate all 10,000 headstones of the fallen heroes of all wars with memorial wreaths donated by the Worcester Wreath Company of Massachusetts. Precisely at 12 noon EST, a moment of silence will be held nation-wide, taps will then sound breaking the normal silence in these gardens of stone, and ceremonies held marking both the sorrows of the past, the present sacrifices of our newest veterans and their families, and our hopes for a better future when all wars become but a past memory.

Taps being played at Brigadier General Doyle Cemetery during holiday wreath laying ceremony honoring our fallen heroes and all veterans of wars past and present

Seven wreaths, one for each branch of military service, the US Merchant Marine, and one for those service members still missing in action, will be placed prior to formal ceremonies at Brigadier General Doyle National Veterans Cemetery in Wrightstown and Beverly National Veterans Cemetery in Beverly, among other sites in New Jersey.

Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, the only military auxiliary sanctioned by the U.S. Congress, has performed missions for America since its inception 67 years ago. A non-profit organization with more than 57,000 members nationwide, CAP performs 90 percent of inland emergency air search and ground rescue missions and last year was credited by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center with saving 90 lives. CAP mounted the most intensive air search in its history recently for Steve Fossett, the famed aviator. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief, and counter drug missions. Officers play a leading role in fostering aerospace education and serve as mentors to over 22,000 young people currently participating in the CAP Cadet Program.

Teens and adults interested in serving with Civil Air Patrol can log onto www.njwg.cap.gov that provides New Jersey New Jersey group and squadron meeting locations in their local area. CAP Group 224 meets at the US Army National Guard Armory on Route 33 Business in Freehold, the second and fourth thursday of the month from 7 to 9 pm.

Local organizations and private individuals who wish to attend the observances should contact Captain Marvin A. Goldberg, CAP public affairs officer, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 732-850-6319 for further information.