With immediate thanks to the ABMC (American Battle Monuments Commission) ~ who tend to the memory of our fathers
and loved ones around the world with such dignity and grace. We are assured that even if Covid prevents public services
again this year ~ wreaths will be presented in remembrance by cemetery staff. So we are a "GO" for wreath layings in 2021.
Check in from time to time on the ABMC's own web page that shows the Operational Status of your Cemetery: Click Here.

Consider this page our hub of operations. It is up to each of us to honor and remember our fathers by name at the one place
on earth where they are buried and best remembered. And it is up to us to aid our collective sons and daughters to help us.
You deserve deep thanks from the AWON Membership; especially from the sons and daughters whose fathers we remember.

Our objective is to provide an AWON Wreath and Banner to each of our cemeteries in time for Memorial Day Services ~
that will be held this year around the world on Saturday, May 29, 2021 and on Sunday, May 30, 2021 ~ in advance of the
official celebration of Memorial Day on Monday, May 31. We encourage you to become familiar with the Chronology below
(a linear timeline of what we all need to do), and to use each Memorial Day season as an opportunity to establish or deepen
your relationships with those most closely involved. Main among these are your Presenters, your Florist, the Superintendent
of your American Cemetery, other ABMC officials and staff, as well as anyone who might occasionally or regularly assist you
as Photographers . . . to send you pictures to represent your cemetery when the services have concluded.

Jeanne Rhinehart and Rik Peirson currently run the program, now in its 19th Memorial Day Year!
We encourage you to e-visit each others' cemeteries and to exchange useful information to help each other when you can.
Whenever you need to reach us, here's how:

For Jeanne, Click Here or call 717/574-8677 (PA time)
For Rik, Click Here or call 805/963-7835 (CA time) 

Don't miss the Chronology (now Revised) below. Meanwhile, the buttons click through to our Cemeteries.

Here are all 16 ABMC-managed American Cemeteries Overseas that hold the fallen of World War II.
And the Stateside Coordinators who help us honor them.
Click any button for cemetery detail.

Coordinator since 2004: Gail Eisenhauer
Buried: 5,317; Missing: 463; Total Remembered: 5,780; AWON Men: 37;

Coordinator since 2006: Brian Hope
Buried: 4,409; Missing: 500; Total Remembered: 4,909; AWON Men: 27;

Coordinator since 2005: Jean Rhinehart
Buried: 3,812; Missing: 5,127; Total Remembered: 8,939; AWON Men: 38;

Temporary Coordinator: Jean Rhinehart (Temporary)
Buried: 5,254; Missing: 424; Total Remembered: 5,678; AWON Men: 43;

Coordinator since 2017: Barbara Catterall
Buried: 4,399; Missing: 1,409; Total Remembered: 5,808; AWON Men: 27;

Coordinator since 2003: Rik Peirson
Buried: 7,992; Missing: 450; Total Remembered: 8,442; AWON Men: 57;

Coordinator since 2012: Paul Bremer
Buried: 10,489; Missing: 444; Total Remembered: 10,933; AWON Men: 56;

Coordinator for the second time since 2004: Sandy MacDuffee
Buried: 5,075; Missing: 371; Total Remembered: 5,446; AWON Men: 42;

Coordinator since 2021: Ruthie Joyce
Buried: 17,184; Missing: 36,286; Total Remembered: 53,470; AWON Men: 78;

Coordinator since 2019: Gloria Zuccarella Layne
Buried: 8,301; Missing: 1,722; Total Remembered: 10,023; AWON Men: 82;

Coordinator since 2019: Rondy Elliott
Buried: 9,385; Missing: 1,557; Total Remembered: 10,942; AWON Men: 23;

Coordinator since 2019: Bonnie Hellums
Buried: 2,841; Missing: 3,724; Total Remembered: 6,565; AWON Men: 23;

Coordinator since 2021: Rik Peirson (Temporary)
Buried: 860; Missing: 294; Total Remembered: 1,154; AWON Men: 10;

Coordinator since 2004: Bob Meek, Jr.
Buried: 7,860; Missing: 3,095; Total Remembered: 10,955; AWON Men: 31;

Coordinator since 2005: Susan Chadd
Missing: 28,909; Total Remembered: 28,809; AWON Men: 67;

Coordinator: The Coordinator Collective
Buried: 1,565; Missing: 974; Total Remembered: 2,539; AWON Men: 24 WWII Dead, Known but to God;

Here's the linear Chronoloy of what we need to do ~ by date:

Step 1 ~ Monday, March 29 ~ Get your List. By this date, you should have received the 2021 list for your cemetery ~ with thanks to Lorin McCleary for the 2021 lists. We'll reformat the original lists to add size and color, initially in Excel. If you can't read an Excel file, no problem ~ just contact Rik immediately, and we'll provide you with the same list as a WORD doc. Click Here!

Step 2 ~ Wednesday, March 31 ~ Write your Donation Letter. By this date, you should have written the E-Mail you'll send to your sons and daughters. Please ask for Donations to be sent directly to you ~ by Wednesday, April 14 (so provide your address). For ideas on the WORDING of the E-Mail, check the Letter SAMPLES ~ check the RESOURCES ~ near the end of this page.

Step 3 ~ Friday, April 2 ~ E-Mail your Donation Letter. By this date, you should send your Donation Letter to your cemetery list.

Step 4 ~ Tuesday, April 6 ~ Order the Cemetery Wreath from your florist. By this date, you should order your wreath. Most of you will know exactly where and how to do this. Call or write to Rik if you need help. You'll need to pay for it on your own nickel, temporarily, then send a copy of the Invoice to our Treasurer, Bob Meek Click Here! Send him your address and he'll send your reimbursement. Or ~ if you want to wait a couple of weeks (until April 21st) you can send the invoice along with your Reconciliation.

Step 5 ~ Friday, April 9 ~ Alert your Super. By this date (or perhaps before this date) ~ alert your cemetery's Superintendent. Give him or her a heads up about when (and from whom) your Wreath will arrive. And depending on your Banner arrangements (some Florists will attach the Banners before they deliver both to the cemetery) you may need to ask your Super to arrange for the attaching of the Banners AFTER the Wreath arrives. This will be a hectic time at the cemetery, so be understanding of this if you ask the Super for help. Also alert your Super of the names of AWON PRESENTERS you expect to be on site.

Step 6 ~ Monday, April 12 ~ Alert your Presenters and Photographer. By this date, do the rest of your alerts and coordinations. If you have Presenters ~ let them know the name of your cemetery's Super, and let them know that you've alerted your Super that they'll be on site. If you've arranged for a photographer, confirm the date and time of the services. If you need to ask your Super for help in arranging for photography, emphasize your contact information, so the designated photographer can send proceeds to you soon after the services.

Step 7 ~ Wednesday, April 14 ~ Ask for Donations to be returned by this date. Not all of them will ~ as there are almost always stragglers. But you should be able to start your project Reconciliation. You'll know the cost of the wreath ~ and you'll have at least most of the Donations in hand.

Step 8 ~ Friday, April 16 ~ Send new Father names to Rik by this date. You may or may not have New AWON Members on your new List ~ but be alert for New Members; and if necessary, contact them separately to underscore the the importance of adding their Father's name to your Cemetery's Banner(s).

Step 9 ~ Friday, April 30 ~ Shipping Address & Cover Letter! ~ We'll need to know your Shipping Address by this date (to your Florist; to a Cemetery Super; to a Coordinator Overseas). This is supremely important ~ as without a Shipping Address, your Banners won't go; Also send Rik Text (including your return address) ~ and an E-Sig. And we'll include a Cover Letter with the Banner(s). It's ALWAYS best to let the recipient know what's in the package, especially if there are coordinations to be done to marry the Banners to your Wreath. Don't skip this step! There are Sample Cover Letters among the RESOURCES near the bottom of the page.

Step 10 ~ Friday, April 30 ~ Stand by ~ to approve your 2021 Banners! ~ If you haven't seen your cemetery's 2021 Banner Art by this date ~ call Rik: 805/963-7835! But chances are, you'll have done Step 10 before 4/30/21. Prepare for Step 11 this wekend!

Step 11 ~ Monday, May 3 ~ Reconcile Donations and Expenses. Simple math: 1. Total all Donations; 2. Total the Wreath Expense (probably your only expense). 3. In a Report to two of us (Treasurer Bob Meek, and Rik) show Total Donations - less the Wreath Expense = Total Excess for __________(Your) American Cemetery. To make it easy, there's a FORM for it that you can download (see the RESOURCES links near the bottom of this page).

Step 12 ~ Friday, May 7 ~ Follow Up! ~ If you haven't been notified that your Banner(s) has been shipped by this date, then please E-Mail Rik.

> Memorial Day Services happen overseas Saturday, May 29th and Sunday, May 30th

Step 13 ~ Anytime in June ~ Please wrangle Photos you will have hopefully arranged to be sent to you, so you can make a selection of 4 or 5 of the best. Send these by E-Mail to Rik for the AWON Website. Click Here! Rik will share them with Kristin Holmes for The Star.

Step 14 ~ Miller Time! Anytime after you've sent off your cemetery's Photos, you MADE IT! So you can exhale, celebrate! Go to Disneyland! With sincere CONGRATULATIONS! You've successfully honorered our fathers By Name for another Memorial Day. Thank You!

There's a simple CHECKLIST that summarizes the steps above. See the RESOURCES below.

For Donation Letter Samples, Click Here!

For Cover Letter Samples, Click Here!

For Coordination Checklist, Click Here!

For Reconciliation Form, Click Here!

For the History of the Wreath & Banner program, Click Here!

Meanwhile, if you have suggestions for ways to improve the Overseas Wreath & Banner Program
(or these Guidelines) . . . please send them anytime to Jeanne or Rik!!

Heartfelt Thanks
for facilitating this annual Memorial Day Remembrance!

© 2021 • by Wreath & Banner and the sons and daughters of AWON • All rights reserved.