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Cadet Sr. Master Sgt. Caleb Haun carries crosses to be planted at veterans’ graves in Rosehill Memorial Park Oct. 17. Photo by Robyn Stoner.
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Cadet Staff Sgt. Nicolas Parker, front, with the Civil Air Patrol carries cross at the Cross Planting Day held on Oct. 17 at Rosehill Memorial Park cemetery. Behind him, carrying crosses, are, from left, Cadet Sr. Airman John Kramer, Cadet Sr. Master Sgt. Jeannie DeHaan and Cadet Master Sgt. Parker Tolman. Photo by Tim Zeltinger of Minot Camera Club.
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Volunteers gather in Rosehill Memorial Park cemetery on Oct. 17 to plant crosses for hanging wreaths on Wreaths Across America Ceremony Day in December. Photo by Tim Zeltinger of Minot Camera Club.
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Submitted Photo
Cadet Sr. Master Sgt. Caleb Haun carries crosses to be planted at veterans’ graves in Rosehill Memorial Park Oct. 17. Photo by Robyn Stoner.
Submitted Photo
Cadet Staff Sgt. Nicolas Parker, front, with the Civil Air Patrol carries cross at the Cross Planting Day held on Oct. 17 at Rosehill Memorial Park cemetery. Behind him, carrying crosses, are, from left, Cadet Sr. Airman John Kramer, Cadet Sr. Master Sgt. Jeannie DeHaan and Cadet Master Sgt. Parker Tolman. Photo by Tim Zeltinger of Minot Camera Club.
Submitted Photo
Volunteers gather in Rosehill Memorial Park cemetery on Oct. 17 to plant crosses for hanging wreaths on Wreaths Across America Ceremony Day in December. Photo by Tim Zeltinger of Minot Camera Club.
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Minot Wreaths Across America saw a powerful community turnout at its annual Cross Planting Day held Saturday, Oct. 17, at Rosehill Memorial Park cemetery. Nearly 75 volunteers from ages 2 to 92 joined together in preparation for the meaningful day of remembrance at the anticipated Wreaths Across America Ceremony Day in December.
Civil Air Patrol cadets, JROTC cadets, local businesses, families, and veterans worked side by side as volunteers pushed welded rebar crosses into the ground on which wreaths will hang. Even a herd of deer turned up to cheer on volunteers from a neighboring section.
The crosses are planted beside the edge of flat grave markers each October before the seasonal freeze to allow wreaths for veterans without standing headstones to be secured.
“This day is a meaningful part of our mission to honor our veterans. Getting ready for Wreaths Across America Day is my favorite time of year,” said 14-year-old Civil Air Patrol Cadet Master Sgt. Jeannie DeHaan. “Working to honor every veteran at Rosehill, carrying that commitment forward and teaching our youth why it matters, is both a privilege and a responsibility. Watching my community come together to tackle these projects and expand our efforts to honor our veterans is so exciting. The cadets in my squadron love being a part of it.”
As the MinotWreaths.org project grows to include each of the nearly 3,000 veteran graves at Rosehill Cemetery, the need for Minot’s community organizations and businesses to form stewardship teams will grow as well,” said Minot Wreaths Across America Coordinator Robyn Stoner.
“These teams act as veteran stewards for one section of Rosehill for four hours each year – during Cross Planting Day in the fall, Wreaths Across America Day in December, and Wreath Clean-up Day in the spring. Working together as a community in this effort means we will be able to honor every veteran at Rosehill. That’s what I want our youth to carry forward from this: that sense of community, of teamwork,” Stoner said.
Organizations or businesses interested in forming a team for the Adopt-A-Section of Rosehill program can visit MinotWreaths.org.
