Wreaths to be laid at local veterans’ graves this weekend

The Middletown Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will honor local veterans Saturday, Dec. 16, as part of a Wreaths Across America effort.

The local squadron and hundreds of volunteers will place hundreds of wreaths — one on each grave of every veteran — at Woodside Cemetery.

Wreath laying will begin at 9 a.m. and a special ceremony will start at noon at Woodside Cemetery, 1401 Woodside Blvd.

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Saturday’s ceremony will feature John Hart of Start Skydiving, the Middletown Police Department Honor Guard, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office Bagpipers, Fast Traxx Skydiving Team, the Ohio Patriot Guard and local musician Paul Thompson.

Many area youth groups — including American Heritage Girls, Trail Life Boys and Boy Scouts of America — helped make this event possible, according to organizers. A Second Mile Award will also be presented Saturday to the American Heritage Girls of Miamitown, who obtained 479 sponsors for wreaths.

The Middletown squadron is an auxiliary of the Air Force and includes senior members as well as cadets ages 12-18. The adults are trained in emergency services for response events such as natural disasters and search and rescue. The cadets are trained in aerospace education, emergency services and leadership skills.

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