Civil Air Patrol participates in Wreaths Across America

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Cadet 1st Lt Ariihau Ikaikaikapono Barton delivers opening remarks. (Courtesy photo/Special to West Hawaii Today)
Cadet Colonel Aiden Alvarez, Cadet 1st Lt Arihau Barton, Cadet Chief Master Sgt Michael Evans, Cadet Master Sgt Asher McCarty salute those who served. (Courtesy photo/Special to West Hawaii Today)
Cadet Master Sgt Asher McCarty and Cadet Master Sgt Michael Evans stand at ease beside the Memorial to those serving in the Korean War. (Courtesy photo/Special to West Hawaii Today)
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Civil Air Patrol Cadets of the Kona Composite Squadron and others participated in the 12th year of supporting Wreaths Across America with the placing of 612 wreaths at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery on Dec. 17.

This is a tradition of placing wreaths on the headstones of our nation’s fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery and hundreds of other veterans’ cemeteries across the country during the holidays. The mission — to Remember, Honor, and Teach about the sacrifices made by our veterans — has captured the hearts and minds of many communities across the country.

Thanks to the following for their participation and generous support: Hawaii County Council, American Legion Post #20, Disabled American Veterans, Stoneworks, LLC, Metzler Contracting Co. LLC, West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery, and the countless veteran families and members of our local community that were in attendance.

Anyone wishing to donate to Wreaths Across American can do so at https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/19972/Overview/?relatedId=14810

The Kona Squadron meets every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Anyone interested in more information should contact Commander, Lt. Col. Brad Williams (Bradford.Williams@hiwgcap.org) or (210) 617-6245.

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, CAP 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. CAP’s 60,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. In addition, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to over 25,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com or www.CAP.news for more information.