GILLETTE, Wyo. — Campbell County’s Powder River Composite Squadron WY069 placed fifth among 24 Wyoming sponsorship groups that participated in Wreaths Across America in 2022, Region 4 Liaison Team announced this afternoon.
Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit that continues and expands the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery that started in 1992. Every year, groups continue the tradition by honoring those who served in the armed forces, helping teach the next generation the value of freedom, according to a news release. Volunteers place the wreaths on headstones as a gesture of gratitude.
“We are pleased to be recognized for our efforts in 2022 to honor our local Veterans — both those in the cemeteries, as well as those still living with us,” Maj. Toni Brown, Wreaths Across America’s Campbell County coordinator, said today. “But for 2023, we are aiming for #1! We need about 2,000 wreaths to place on the crosses, while we also honor the Veterans whom we can still give hugs to!”
Twenty-one registered locations in Wyoming were involved in the campaign, and 11,241 veterans’ graves were honored. The 29 groups sponsored 10,983 wreaths.
With 579 wreaths, the squadron placed 624th out of the more than 6,000 groups that participated across the country. Nationally, Wreaths Across America participants in 2022 helped ensure that over 2.7 million veterans were remembered nationwide with remembrance wreaths at nearly 3,700 locations.
The 2023 National Wreaths Across America Day will be held on Dec. 16, the national organization said in the release.
