HANCOCK COUNTY— The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Fort Benjamin Harrison Composite Squadron is partnering with Wreaths Across America to raise awareness and funds to purchase 800 wreaths — one for every veteran in Lawn Gravel Cemetery.
Captain Tricia Bagnall, unit commander for the Fort Benjamin Harrison Composite Squadron, has been involved with CAP for more than six years, but in the last four months has been commander for the squadron in Greenfield.
Bagnall said that, starting out, the squadron had about five cadets, so she looked at it as a rebuilding opportunity.
“I came in to try to help some of that rebuilding, and now we have 20 cadets after four months and we gained six new senior members,” Bangall said. She explained that senior members are those who are 18 years and older. Cadets are ages 12 to 18.
With the quickly growing squadron, Bagnall said that this is their first time partnering with Wreaths Across America, which is an organization that honors veterans that have given their lives in service by placing a Christmas wreath on their gravestone. In order to do so, they would need to raise funds for 800 gravestones in Gravel Lawn Cemetery located in Fortville.
“Originally, our goal was 200 and we found out that they have 800 veterans there,” Bagnall said. “And we still want to accomplish that 200 but we want to go up above and beyond … The lady that we spoke with at Gravel Lawn Cemetery kind of said it through tears that they’ve never been able to accomplish that, all 800.”
Bagnall said that about a month ago, she approached the cadets and senior members and asked them what kind of story they wanted to tell of their unit. Their response was they wanted to impact their local community.
“To help them see and understand that these people need to be remembered for what they sacrificed for not only our community, but for our state and our nation,” Bagnall said. “I think it’s a small token of appreciation we can give back to these veterans and families.”
One woman reached out to Bagnall with a donation and a note, mentioning that during the holiday season, especially for veterans that are still alive, it is so important to them to see that their sacrifice is not being forgotten.
Bagnall said that for CAP the core values are integrity, volunteer service, excellence and respect.
With Wreaths Across America, their fundraising goes under volunteer service, but Bagnall also said in return, the squadron does get some monies to go toward programs for the cadets, such programs for aerospace education, emergency services and more.
“Everything that we do, and this includes Wreaths Across America, has to fall under one of those items or missions,” Bagnall said.
The squadron also takes their learning and skills into the sky, where with supervision of the pilot, the cadets can take control of the flight — but the pilot controls the take off and landing. Bagnall said that before the flights, the cadets will go over and learn the material for each flight and the different purposes.
Jennfier Rumple, a senior member, said that for her son, getting experiences like this has made him want to become a pilot and join the Air Force when he gets older.
“Amongst other avenues that CAP has provided, it’s just a very well-rounded opportunity for youth,” Rumple said.
For anyone interested in learning more about Fort Benjamin Harrison Composite Squadron, they will be holding an open house from 7-8 p.m. on Nov. 8 at the Buck Creek Township Community Center in front of the Mt. Comfort Airport.
The squadron will also gather again to help place the wreaths on veteran graves at the Gravel Lawn Cemetery at noon on Dec. 16. The deadline to donate is Nov. 22. For more information, to donate, or volunteer, visit https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/177055/Overview/?relatedId=0.
“One of our core values is respect, respecting those who rank above as adults, veterans, people in our community,” Rumple said. “I think it just filters into everything with customs and courtesy and overall respect. They wanted to give back to the community and respecting veterans even after they passed is — I’m a daughter of a veteran so — I think it’s amazing.”
