Dec. 21—ROCHESTER — The Civil Air Patrol Southeast Minnesota Composite Squadron once again teamed up with Wreaths Across America to continue honoring fallen heroes this holiday season.
The Civil Air Patrol has partnered with Wreaths Across America for years to honor deceased veterans while educating the community about the value of freedom. The Civil Air Patrol Southeast Minnesota Composite Squadron has been preparing and selling wreaths for months before their gathering at Soldiers Field Memorial in Rochester on December 21, 2024.
“We hold this ceremony every year and we invite veterans to come to the ceremony and participate in laying their wreath here on these donkeys, along with some speeches,” said Ethan Brewner, cadet commander of the Southeast Minnesota Composite Squadron . “Then we’ll all go outside, get hot chocolate and all clean up a veteran’s grave and place the wreath as a sign of respect for what they did for our country.”
The event was scheduled to take place on December 14, but was postponed due to weather conditions. Despite the slight delay, about 20 squad members and other volunteers gathered to lay about 450 wreaths at Calvary and Oakwood cemeteries in Rochester.
“Wreaths Across America says you are forgotten twice: once when you die and the second time when your name is spoken for the last time,” Brewner said. ‘We just want to make sure that second time never really happens. We’re just trying to remember their names.”
Every year the number of wreaths sold grows and the volunteers enjoy it. They start selling wreaths months in advance, with Thanksgiving being the last weekend they can purchase a wreath in time for the ceremony and event.
Brewner said one of the most common ways they sell wreaths and raise money is through corporate sponsors. They also go door to door.
For each honored grave, the headstone was cleared of snow and thanked for their service.
“We really want to symbolize and understand who we represent, who we honor, who we commemorate,” said Benjamin Olson, Cadet Major of the Southeast Composite Squadron. “So we wipe away the snow to see who we are honoring at that moment. We say that person’s name out loud, we place the ceremonial wreath, and then we stand back, we take him with us. of their service, and then we salute, and move on to the next person.
Will Lennon, Cadet Airman First Class, was among the volunteers who helped at Oakwood Cemetery. Lennon has a long line of veterans in his family and that motivates him to volunteer. Most of his family lives in Indiana and Ohio, and events like these make him feel connected to them even in Minnesota.
“Our favorite part is the aspect of remembering those who came before us who served and fought for freedom, and remembering them and honoring their sacrifice, and then educating our youth and educating our community about that sacrifice,” Olson said. “I think those big core values mean the most to us.”
