Hello All-
As many of you may know Bruce and I spent Christmas Day 2006 at Arlington National Cemetary and Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D. C. I recall how regal and heartbreaking it was to see all the wreathes that had been placed on the graves of all our soldiers. Seeing the families that day who came to visit I remember thinking how it has to help ease their pain a bit knowing that so many others share their lose. I came home and gave a talk to our National Guard support group about what we had experienced and was hoping we could do the same for Bismarck. Upon researching we discovered that the job would be much more extensive than we could have dreamed. To our delight we came across the article this week on Major Sean Johnson who has decided to take on this task.
I have been in touch with Major Johnson and have pledged my and my fellow mothers of the 188th ADA our support in his huge undertaking. We are asking that anyone who can, please sponsor a wreath for $15.00. We are certainly on a time crunch as the wreathes need to be ordered by Dec. 1. We plan on presenting our pledges in the honor of our 4 fallen of the 188th. The mothers of our fallen will also be helping with the project which makes it even more dear to our hearts. You may either mail your pledges to 309 Napa Loop (checks written to Wreathes across America) or ask that I pick it up which I would be more than happy to do. I would appreciate it that if you chose to help you send me an e mail stating your pledge amount as we are presenting him our total on Nov. 27th.
Please help us make this project a successful first year so that it may continue. What a wonderful way to say "thank you" to the families of the fallen on this holiday.
Feel free to forward this e-mail to help get this to as many people as possible.
I cannot wait to see what the North Dakota Veterans cemetary will look like this December 25th thanks to all your help. God Bless our Vetrans and you for honoring them.
Thank you, Bruce and Jackie Basaraba
jbasarab@bis.midco.net
Nov 16, 2008 - 04:05:23 CST
Soon, if they don't already, strings of green and red lights will adorn streetlights and houses. Wise men will appear on lawns along with nearby mangers, and Santa Claus will be crawling down a chimney near you.As the holiday season nears, Christmas decorations seem to take over the landscape, with every square inch glistening and jolly. For the first time, even the headstones at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery will join in the holiday cheer, if the Bismarck Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol has anything to do about it.
"That's our goal," said Maj. Sean Johnson, commander of the Bismarck squadron of the CAP.
The CAP has partnered with Wreaths Across America to help sponsor the placement of a holiday wreath at the headstone of every veteran interred at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. Though the Bismarck squadron of the CAP has worked with Wreaths Across America the previous two years, this will be the first year the groups attempt to place wreaths on the headstones of every grave.
Wreaths Across America began in 1992 when the Worcester Wreath Co. of Maine had excess wreaths as Christmas neared. Company president Morrill Worcester had visited Arlington National Cemetery as a child and remembered being moved by the experience. So, the wreaths were placed on headstones in an older portion of the cemetery.
Now, the program partners with the Civil Air Patrol and places wreaths at veterans cemeteries in every state.
In 2006 and 2007, the Bismarck squadron of the CAP placed wreaths representing each branch of the military at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. That will still be done, but this year the CAP also will be raising money to place individual wreaths, Johnson said.
It costs $15 to sponsor a wreath, and the CAPhopes individuals and businesses will step up to sponsor the decorations. Phil Miller, director of the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, estimates that there will be 2,800 veterans interred at the cemetery by December, as well as about 1,000 spouses and dependents of veterans. Johnson said the CAP hopes to raise funds for all 3,800 wreaths.
"It's a big number," Johnson said. "It's worth doing, though."
Johnson hopes to turn the fundraising project around quickly - sponsorships must be turned in by Dec. 1. If not enough money is raised to place wreaths on every headstone, the CAP will place as many as they can. However, they hope that issue does not arise.
"Right now, we're not thinking about not getting it," Johnson said.
MDU Resources Foundation, the philanthropic arm of MDU Resources Group, already has put up $1,500 for the project, Johnson said.
"It made my day," he said. "It made my month."
The company also challenges other corporations in the area to do the same.
"We like to be involved in the community and we thought this was a great way to be involved and to remember our veterans," said Rita O'Neill, foundation manager.
On Dec. 13, ceremonies across the country will be held at the same time, 11 a.m. Central time, prior to the wreaths being placed. Johnson said the ceremony at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery includes discussions about what veterans mean to the country and the presentation of wreaths for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines, and one honoring people who are prisoners of war or missing in action.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, people who attend will be asked to help place wreaths across the cemetery. Johnson said the ceremony can be a big deal for veterans' families, who may have a hard time during the holiday season.
"It is just an incredibly moving ceremony," he said.
(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@bismarcktribune.com.)
How to donate to Wreaths Across America
Anyone who wants to donate to the Civil Air Patrol and Wreaths Across America for the placement of wreaths at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery can contact Maj. Sean Johnson at 391-5326 or wreathsforvets@yahoo.com.
Sponsoring a wreath costs $15. People also can choose to sponsor multiple wreaths. A family sponsorship of four wreaths costs $60, a small business sponsorship of 10 wreaths costs $150, and a corporate sponsorship of 100 wreaths costs $1,500. Donations also can be made by the dollar. For more information, visit www.wreaths-across-america.org.
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