Maui’s Civil Air Patrol Squadron is participating in National Wreaths Across America Day, this year set for Saturday, Dec. 19.

Wreaths Across America’s mission “… to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 2,100 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad.”

In 2019, approximately 2.2 million wreaths were placed on veterans’ headstones at 2,158 participating locations around the country in honor of the service and sacrifices made for our freedoms, with each name said out loud.

This is the first year of participation for Maui, and the goal is to honor as many of the over 3,000 service members laid to rest at Maui Veterans Cemetery in Makawao as possible.

Squadron Lt. Darryl Ng recently explained plans for the event at a Rotary Club of Lahaina meeting.

“We are so proud to be sponsoring such a great event in honor of our fallen veterans. We really need to show our military ‘ohana that we value their service in the protection of this great nation. We are asking our community to come out and make a pledge so that we can honor every grave this holiday season, and looking for volunteers to help lay those wreaths on their graves this December 19th at noon at the Maui Veterans Cemetery.”

To donate a wreath, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/HI0028P. More information on the Maui squadron is available at www.maui.cap.gov.

The annual effort is held to show appreciation to service members, veterans and their families.

“We understand we have Veterans Day in the fall and Memorial Day in the spring, but our service members sacrifice their time and safety every single day of the year to preserve our freedoms,” Wreaths Across America explained on its website.

“In many homes, there is an empty seat for one who is serving or one who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. There is no better time to express our appreciation than during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. We hope you will join us at any of our more than 2,100 participating locations to show our veterans and their families that we will not forget. We will never forget.”