Wreath Dedication Ceremony on the steps of the State Capitol Building, Sacramento, CA.

by Sally J. Holcombe
(Walnut Creek, California)

Patriot Guard Riders at the California Wreath Dedication,

Thank you to Wreaths Across America for the beautiful wreath that arrived at my home several days before the December 10th kickoff ceremony.
We had a bagpiper play for ten minutes prior to the start of the event. The ceremony began at 12:00 noon on the State Capitol Building steps in Sacramento. Following the Pledge of Allegiance and a brief welcome, I introduced our seven guests: one California Assembly member, two Assembly staff members, one California Senate staff member, the Director of the Sacramento Valley VA National Cemetery, the Chairman of the cemetery's support committee, a Vice President General from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, and the State Librarian for the California State Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
I gave gave a brief history of Wreaths Across America, described what would take place at the Dec. 15th ceremonies, and announced the California locations where ceremonies would be held on that day. Each of the guests was then gave 2--3 minutes of remarks. One of the speakers presented me with a beautiful California State Assembly Resolution titled "Wreaths Across America." This came from my Assemblyman, Guy Houston.
I wrote a brief script for the wreath dedication portion of the ceremony:
We dedicate this wreath in memory and in honor of the men
and women who are serving and who have served our great
Nation as members of our Armed Forces --- the United States
Army, the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps,
the United States Air Force, the United States Coast Guard,
and the United States Merchant Marine. With this wreath, we
also honor the 93,852 Servicemen from all branches of the
military whose last known status was either as Prisoners of
War or Missing in Action. We pledge to Remember your
Sacrifices, to Honor your Service, and to Teach our children to
do the same."
I concluded by inviting the audience to attend one of the Dec. 15th programs, then called attention to the invitation fliers that were being passed out by the Civil Air Patrol Squadron from Travis AFB, and thanked the ceremony participants. The bagpiper played for the next ten minutes.