Fort Bliss Monitor

Bob Duran

Volunteers stand by six ceremonial wreaths honoring veterans buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery last December.

El Paso has chance
to honor fallen

Daniela Vestal
Monitor Staff

El Paso Composite Squadron, Civilian Air Patrol, is sponsoring a move to put 2,500 live wreaths on veteran’s graves at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery in December. This is the first opportunity El Pasoans will have to honor those who served our county and have their final resting places in El Paso in this manner, said Debra Torres, squadron commander.

This is an expansion of the Arlington National Cemetery wreath program that has been done every year for the last 15 years, said Torres, where the Worcester Wreath Company out of Maine provides 5,000 wreaths for Arlington National Cemetery every year. The live wreaths are as big around as you can span with your arms, Torres said, with a red velvet bow.

Last year, Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company, wanted to expand the project. He knew of CAP because his daughter is a member and he thought involving the widespread organization would be a good way to include the more than 200 national cemeteries throughout the U. S., said Torres.

Although this is the first year people can donate wreaths to honor the Soldiers interred in El Paso, the El Paso Composite Squadron was able to sponsor six ceremonial wreaths last year. These wreaths were placed during a ceremony honoring the sacrifice of all who have served in each of the Armed Services, including the Coast Guard and one for the prisoners of war and the missing in action. This year’s ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 15. It will coincide with the ceremony taking place in Arlington at noon of the same day.

The goal of the program this year is to get 500,000 wreaths sponsored nationally, said Torres, which will guarantee each cemetery receives 2,500 wreaths. Oct. 1 is the deadline to place orders, thus allowing the company time to make and deliver the wreaths.

Wreaths are $15 each and the cost is tax-deductible. In addition to wreath donors, volunteers are needed to place the wreaths Dec. 14. Wreath donors who have family members resting at Fort Bliss National Cemetery are welcome to place the wreath themselves. For each wreath donated, the Worcester Wreath Com-pany will donate $2 to the CAP. Wreath donations through the national Web site will go to CAP headquarters. Donations that go through the El Paso chapter will benefit the CAP in El Paso.

CAP has had a long history with the military, said Torres. The organization came into existence in World War II, when members patrolled the U. S. coasts, helped to keep the homeland secure and sank a few Nazi submarines in the process. Many of the members of the El Paso Composite Squadron are former military. CAP today is a civilian auxiliary of the Air Force, comprised of volunteers who conduct search and rescue for downed aircraft and missing people, conduct aviation education programs for middle and high school students and support Fort Bliss and other government organizations in some of their exercises, said Torres.

For more information, or to sponsor a wreath, email elpasowreaths@ yahoo.com or call 595-1946.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	Aug. 2, 2007

	Bob Duran Volunteers stand by six ceremonial wreaths honoring veterans buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery last December. El Paso has chance to honor fallen Daniela Vestal Monitor Staff El Paso Composite Squadron, Civilian Air Patrol, is sponsoring a move to put 2,500 live wreaths on veteran’s graves at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery in December. This is the first opportunity El Pasoans will have to honor those who served our county and have their final resting places in El Paso in this manner, said Debra Torres, squadron commander. This is an expansion of the Arlington National Cemetery wreath program that has been done every year for the last 15 years, said Torres, where the Worcester Wreath Company out of Maine provides 5,000 wreaths for Arlington National Cemetery every year. The live wreaths are as big around as you can span with your arms, Torres said, with a red velvet bow. Last year, Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company, wanted to expand the project. He knew of CAP because his daughter is a member and he thought involving the widespread organization would be a good way to include the more than 200 national cemeteries throughout the U. S., said Torres. Although this is the first year people can donate wreaths to honor the Soldiers interred in El Paso, the El Paso Composite Squadron was able to sponsor six ceremonial wreaths last year. These wreaths were placed during a ceremony honoring the sacrifice of all who have served in each of the Armed Services, including the Coast Guard and one for the prisoners of war and the missing in action. This year’s ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 15. It will coincide with the ceremony taking place in Arlington at noon of the same day. The goal of the program this year is to get 500,000 wreaths sponsored nationally, said Torres, which will guarantee each cemetery receives 2,500 wreaths. Oct. 1 is the deadline to place orders, thus allowing the company time to make and deliver the wreaths. Wreaths are $15 each and the cost is tax-deductible. In addition to wreath donors, volunteers are needed to place the wreaths Dec. 14. Wreath donors who have family members resting at Fort Bliss National Cemetery are welcome to place the wreath themselves. For each wreath donated, the Worcester Wreath Com-pany will donate $2 to the CAP. Wreath donations through the national Web site will go to CAP headquarters. Donations that go through the El Paso chapter will benefit the CAP in El Paso. CAP has had a long history with the military, said Torres. The organization came into existence in World War II, when members patrolled the U. S. coasts, helped to keep the homeland secure and sank a few Nazi submarines in the process. Many of the members of the El Paso Composite Squadron are former military. CAP today is a civilian auxiliary of the Air Force, comprised of volunteers who conduct search and rescue for downed aircraft and missing people, conduct aviation education programs for middle and high school students and support Fort Bliss and other government organizations in some of their exercises, said Torres. For more information, or to sponsor a wreath, email elpasowreaths@ yahoo.com or call 595-1946.