AUBURN — Members of the Maine Wing traveled to Washington, D.C., recently. As a key partner in Wreaths Across America, the Civil Air Patrol annually adorns memorials and veterans graves with evergreen wreaths to insure the sacrifices of our nation’s military are never forgotten.

Members from the Auburn and Lewiston area were Colonel Dan Leclair, Maine Wing commander and former squadron commander of the 077th based at the Auburn-Lewiston Airport; Captain Warren King; Lt. Mary Story; Colonel Chris Hayden, commander of the Northeast region; and Captain Joyce Gaddis, director of cadet programs CAP, Maine.

Story was promoted to Captain at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., at a sunrise ceremony beside the mast of the USS Maine. Hayden and Leclair pinned her bars on her epaulets.

Following the ceremony, they traveled to the Pentagon for wreath laying ceremonies and met the convoy from Wreaths Across America on Dec. 12, with many other Civil Air Patrol members from other eastern states, Gold Star Mothers, Patriot Riders, VFW, American Legion and AMVETS and the Maine State police as their escorts.

Wreaths were placed at the Pentagon and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and Civil Air Patrol Honor Guard and Maine Cadets placed wreaths at the Space Shuttle Memorial.

The kickoff ceremony was held at the McClellan Arch at Arlington Cemetery and the last ceremony of the event was held at the Women In Military Service For America Memorial. A reception was held at the women’s memorial for all CAP members.

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