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Civil Air Patrol asks for help with ‘Section 60 Project’

  • Published
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala --  As part of its holiday tradition of partnering with Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit organization that recognizes the courage and sacrifices of U.S. veterans, Civil Air Patrol is calling on its partners and its parent organization, the Air Force, to help with this year's "Section 60 Project" at Arlington.

Section 60 is the final resting place for about 9,000 men and women, many of whom were killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"It has been called the 'Saddest Acre in America' because the grief is so fresh for the family and friends they've left behind," said CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy Courter. "Tragically, it is also the fastest growing section in Arlington."

This is the first year the entire Section 60 has been open to Wreaths Across America and CAP, whose annual goal is to lay a wreath at the foot of every U.S. veterans' gravestone as well as at memorials nationwide and abroad.

In December, more than 200,000 wreaths will be placed at Arlington National Cemetery and at other veterans' gravesites in each of the nation's 50 states and at dozens of other U.S. cemeteries and memorials on foreign soil. In all, 535 wreath-laying observances are planned, with CAP leading or assisting with many of them, including the national ceremony December 11 at Arlington.

"This is our opportunity to honor all veterans who have found a final resting place there," said CAP Gen. Courter. "Please help us commemorate and remember their sacrifice, their patriotism and their dedication to the defense of our nation."

To sponsor a $15 wreath for Section 60, go to http://cap.wreathsacrossamerica.org. The information needed for the order form:
State: Section 60 of Arlington
Location: Section 60 of Arlington
Group State: Alabama
Group ID: ALCAPNHQ000

The last day to sponsor a wreath is November 29.

"Let's do our part to make sure there is a wreath for every fallen hero in Section 60," said Gen. Courter. "I also encourage each CAP volunteer and partner as well as Air Force active duty personnel, Reserve, Guard and retirees throughout the nation to support this worthwhile cause and to forward this sponsorship information to fellow members, friends and family and ask them to sponsor a wreath."

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 61,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 113 lives in fiscal year 2010. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 26,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 69 years. It is the largest sponsor annually of Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans.

For more information on Civil Air Patrol, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com or www.capvolunteernow.com.