Richard Reuer, Minot

Thank you again Minot and those in the surrounding areas for making the 6th Annual Wreaths Across America hosted by Minot Civil Air Patrol – Magic City Composite Squadron.

This year you have helped sponsor over 1,300 wreaths and this year our Magic City was able to present over 300 wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. I was just informed by a resident here in Minot, who has relatives buried in Arlington, that received a call from a relative that attended the Wreaths Across America ceremony at the Arlington National Cemetery and Minot, North Dakota was named and how many wreaths were given to lay at the graves of Soldiers, Sailors and Marines there in Arlington.

I’m sure we have veterans from North Dakota that are buried at Arlington and that’s why we want to continue providing them our extra wreaths which represent our 1,500 plus veterans at Rosehill Memorial Park Cemetery that are not in sections 12 and 16 where wreaths are being laid each year.

This year our attendance was down due to bitter cold weather and some confusion of the times and location of the ceremony. Thanks to Pastor Jennifer McDonald and her parishioners of the Vincent United Methodist Church for the past three years now have opened their doors for us to hold the formal ceremony of Wreaths Across America in their fellowship hall. Each year the ceremony is held at 11 a.m. with hot beverages and cookies before the ceremony begins. Following the ceremony those wishing to help lay wreaths are given instructions to follow the Commander of the Minot Civil Air Patrol and honorary vehicles to the cemetery. This helps us know how many will be volunteering to help lay wreaths.

This year’s theme for Wreaths Across America was “Everyone Plays A Part.” Last year we focused on family members whose loved one’s served during WWI. This year we honored our WWII veterans and their family members. We were honored to have Johnny Benter and his son Neil be apart of our ceremony this year.

Johnny was our honorary veteran this year to lay the first wreath at the grave of a WWII veteran, SSgt Vernon Bommelman, the father of Nancy Bommelman Bruce. Both Johnny and Nancy were given a wreath that had an American Flag and Army flag attached to the wreath and laid at SSgt Bommelman’s grave.

DAV Chapter 4 presented the colors as Erin Likness sang our National Anthem followed by the opening prayer given by Father Bruce Krebs of Our Lady of Grace ending with the American Legion Post #26 Honor Guard team with the firing of their rifles and Steve Veikley playing of Taps.

A special award was given to the Minot Area Community Foundation for their participation in sponsoring a total of 500 wreaths in a five-year period. Others that were given five year continuous years of sponsorship were: Bruce and Nancy Anderson, Dorothea Howey, Diane Jenson, Deborah Mahoney, Dennis and Cindy Nordquist, Jeff Seright, Lois Zander, Jason and Dusty Zimmerman and Barb Zodrow. Each year we will be giving out these special certificates along with a Wreaths Across America lapel pin.

For the first time this year our local restaurant Applebee’s promoted Wreaths Across America through the donations of their customers helping Applebee’s raise over $1,000 to sponsor wreaths for our veterans beginning next year. They plan on doing this on an annual basis. Thank you Tom Weaver and your staff for an outstanding fundraising promotion and know that each year your restaurant continues to provide this service will be greatly appreciated by all the veterans and their family members in keeping with the mission of Wreaths Across America: Remember our fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teaching our children the value of FREEDOM.

We were happy to have the American Legion of Bottineau continue to sponsor wreaths from our city to place in their two cemeteries, and their plans are to continue Wreaths Across America in their community.

We were deeply sorry that the American Legion of Mohall was not able to continue with us this year due to the death of their Post Commander, Jonathan Mays. Mohall has been a part of our Wreaths Across America for the past years. Please keep in your thoughts and prayers this Christmas holiday the families and members of the American Legion in Mohall.

Here are some of the business’ whose sponsorship who made our goal possible this year: Minot Area Community Foundation (100 wreaths), Magic City Civil Air Patrol (28 wreaths through the Community Impact Fundraising event at Pizza Ranch), Minot Air Force Base Officer’s Spouse Club (20 wreaths), Sertomoa Club of Minot (20 wreaths), DAV Chapter 4 (10 wreaths), Faith United Methodist Men (10 wreaths), First Western Bank and Trust (10 wreaths), Gate City Bank (10 wreaths), On the Water (10 wreaths) and Saint Therese Church of the Little Flower (10 wreaths).

Here are local citizens of our community who helped as well: Roberta Dodson (66 wreaths), Max Zurcher III (20 wreaths), Tom Haverlock (10 wreaths), Harry and Leslie Mowbray (10 wreaths), Jean Rasmusson (10 wreaths) and Dan and Jo Vannett (10 wreaths).

We want to thank Stephen Jacobson of Memory Savers Video for videotaping live streaming of our ceremony on our Wreaths Across America – Minot Facebook page. Thank you to the volunteers from South Prairie High School students and those from our community for helping place 550 rebar crosses in section 16. Our news media for getting the information out to our community and for Flower Box and Flower Central for giving out applications to their customers reminding them to sponsor a wreath for a veterans’ grave.

Thank you all again for making our 6th annual Wreaths Across America another successful year. Looking forward in our 7th year which the ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 19, 2020, which we will be honoring our Korean War veterans and their family members. Come out and join us again. If you wish to sponsor a wreath for next year, applications will be provided at the Rosehill Memorial Park Cemetery office throughout the year.

Last and but least I would like to share a special thank you note that was sent to me about our volunteers by Emmeline Curtis which says: Congratulations! Today’s wreaths distribution system was easy, smooth, and so well organized! Hopefully today’s experience can be repeated each year in the future. Thank you to the friendly pleasant volunteers who braved the cold with smiles and fast service. Thank you for bringing this program to Minot. The wreaths on the gates and fence of the cemetery are so beautiful – a meaningful part of the Magic City Christmas, and our individual holiday traditions.

The wreaths will be on display until Jan. 25.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Minot Civil Air Patrol – Magic City Composite Squadron.