~ Coordinators ~

Wreath & Banner ~ Memorial Day 2026

~ Step by Step Guidelines ~

Whether you’re an old hand or a brand new Coordinator ~ these steps will help you get the job done.

Need help or have Questions: Rik@dayone.com; 805/963-7835.

1. Order the Wreath for your cemetery. We should pay $200 to $250 US. Send the receipt to our Treasurer, Bob Meek (rhmeekjr@gmail.com) and he’ll reimburse you.

2. These are the current Banners for 2026 ~ in alpha order. If you have any new Dads (or changes to original Dads) ~ please alert Rik right away (Rik@dayone.com). We’ll consider these Banners approved ~ unless we hear from you.

Ardennes Coordinator: Régine Achten

Brittany Coordinator: Brian Hope

Cambridge Coordinator: This position is open. Temporary Coordinator: Rik Peirson

Epinal Coordinator: Jocelyne Papelard

Florence Coordinator: Gretchen Wronka (with thanks for stepping up!)

Henri-Chapelle Coodinator: Rik Peirson

Lorraine Coordinator: This position is open. Temporary Coordinator: Rik Peirson

Luxembourg Coordinator: Cherrill McMillian (with thanks for stepping up!)

Manila Coordinator: This position is open. Temporary Coordinator: Rik Peirson

Margraten Coodinator: Gloria Layne

Normandy Coodinator: Rondy Elliott

North Africa Coordinator: This position is open. Temporary Coordinator: Rik Peirson

Punchbowl Coordinator: Vanita Rae Smith

Rhone Coordinator: This position is open. Temporary Coordinator: Rik Peirson

Sicily-Rome Coordinator: Bob Meek

Suresnes Coordinator: Coordinator Collaborative

Volunteers please note ~ that we need Coordinators for Cambridge, Lorraine, Manila, North Africa, and Rhone. Remembrances for your fathers can’t be guaranteed without a Coordinator in place. So if you can ~ please help. Alert Rik (Rik@dayone.com).

3. Send Donation Request E-Mails to your sons and daughters. See the sample E-Mail below. If you don’t have a LIST from last year (or if you’re a new Coodinator) ~ Rik will send you the LIST. For your Donation Request mail ~ you’ll need to mention the actual ceremony date and time:

Here’s the mail I’ll use ~ which you can use as a general model. But “make it your own.”

Just be sure to include the instruction to WRITE the checks to AWON Wreath Fund; and to send the checks to you!

4. Do a final Reconciliation. Collect the checks ~ make a list, show a total ~ less the cost of your Wreath ~ and this will be the NET donations for your cemetery. Please send the checks ~ and your Reconciliation ~ to Treasurer Bob Meek (rhmeekjr@gmail.com) ~ and with a copy of the Reconciliation to me (Rik@dayone.com).

5. Send the TEXT for your Cover Letter to me ~ and we’ll complete and print the letter and use it to enclose the Banners and make our several requests (see the sample Cover Letter below) ~ to alert you when the Banners arrive; to fasten the Banners to the Wreath when it arrives from the florist; and to send you pictures of the Wreath and Banners together.

Hints on the Cover Letter: A. Remember ~ just send me the TEXT ~ and we’ll complete, print, and enclose the letter in the Banner package; B. Get your cemetery’s Superintendent’s name, if you can (which I also need to do) and C. Be sure to send me your mailing address ~ for the bottom of the “Letterhead.” If you have (or can make) an electronic image of your SIGNATURE ~ send it ~ & we’ll add it to the Cover Letter. If you can’t scan your signature ~ send me a picture of your signature ~ an I’ll take it from there.

6. Send Pictures! If you’ve asked the Super for photos ~ and/or if you’ve asked a presenter (or someone you know will be in attendance at the service), these will be sent to you within a few days of the service. Please send the best ones to me (for the Website) ~ and I’ll immediately share them with Kristin Holmes (for The Star).

You’ve DONE it! ~ With many thanks from AWON management ~ and from the 600+ men we’ll remember on Memorial Day 2026!