Command and General Staff College Foundation News Spring 2022 - 37

U.S. ARMY PHOTO
The CGSC Foundation honors the memory of the following CGSC alumni and friends:
* Col. (Ret.) Stephen J. Kempf (CGSC '75) of Leavenworth, Kansas
* Wendell E. Mason of Lexington, S.C., WWII Marine Corps veteran and father of Trustee Tom Mason
* Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Jack Strukel, Jr. of Topeka, Kansas
Foundation honors veterans on
Wreaths Across America Day 2021
by Elizabeth Hill, Foundation Programs
on dec. 18, 2021, national
Wreaths across america day, the
cgsc foundation helped honor
veterans' graves at the fort
leavenWorth national cemetery
With Wreaths of remembrance.
The Foundation's goal in 2021 was to
honor all 900 veterans buried in Section
N of the cemetery. - The Foundation
achieved that goal with 921 wreaths
sponsored. Combined with efforts of
other participating organizations and
individuals, Sections N and M of the
cemetery were completely covered
with wreaths.
Around 9:30 a.m., under a cloudy
sky and temperatures below freezing,
the wreaths were delivered by Walmart
trucks that entered the cemetery led
by Post 56 VFW Riders on their
motorcycles. The Riders and trucks
entered the cemetery under a large
flag draped from the raised ladders of
the Fort Leavenworth Fire Department
trucks. A small group of volunteers
off-loaded the trucks and staged the
wreaths in the cemetery for other
volunteers to place after the ceremony.
The Wreaths Across America Day
ceremony began at 11 a.m. at the
flag pole in the cemetery. This year's
ceremony included the presentation
of colors by a JROTC color guard,
the pledge of allegiance led by a Boy
Scout, and remarks from Diana Pitts,
the Wreaths
Across
America coordinator for
the Fort Leavenworth
National Cemetery.
After Pitt's remarks,
there was a presentation
of memorial wreaths
for each of the armed
services at the base of
the flag pole, followed
by a three-volley rifle
salute and the playing
of taps (this year we
had bagpipers as well).
After taps, all
the
volunteers present were
given directions where
to begin laying wreaths.
After all the wreaths
were laid, the CGSC
Foundation
hosted
a
reception for volunteers
with hot drinks and
snacks at the Frontier Army Museum
which is nearby the cemetery.
" I want to thank everyone that
sponsored a wreath through the CGSC
Foundation for this year, " said CGSC
Foundation President/CEO Rod Cox.
" We now begin our campaign for
2022, because the effort to honor our
veterans never ends. "
Next year's national Wreaths Across
America Day is Saturday, Dec. 17,
2022.
CGSC Foundation President/CEO Rod Cox, left, and Director of
Operations Lora Morgan lay wreaths during the national Wreaths
Across America Day, Dec. 18, 2021, at the Fort Leavenworth
National Cemetery.
" The Foundation will be leading the
effort to fill the 981 veterans graves
in Section B of the Fort Leavenworth
National Cemetery. The time to start
that effort is now, " said Cox.
Visit the CGSC Foundation
Wreaths Across America
website to sponsor
a wreath today.
Read the story online and see more photos:
https://www.cgscfoundation.org/foundation-honors-veterans-on-wreaths-across-america-day-2021
www.cgscfoundation.org | CGSC FOUNDATION NEWS - 37
PHOTO BY MARK H. WIGGINS

https://www.cgscfoundation.org/foundation-honors-veterans-on-wreaths-across-america-day-2021 http://www.cgscfoundation.org

Command and General Staff College Foundation News Spring 2022

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