Wreaths Across America at Culpeper National Cemetery

10/31/2026

10/30/2026

We are halfway through our 100 day countdown to National Wreaths Across America Day 2026!

Where will you be on Saturday, December 19?

10/30/2026

Remember-Honor-Teach
Remembering Those That Served
Honoring 250 Years of American Heroes
Wreaths Across America at Culpeper National Cemetery

Today we remember Specialist 4 (SP4) William Edward “Billy” Fincham. Billy was born on May 7, 1948, in Gordonsville, Virginia, to David Edward Fincham and Lois Kathleen Clements. After graduating from Orange County High School in 1966 he worked for Old Dominion Manufacturing Corporation. A talented singer, Billy played rhythm guitar in a well known local band and married Diana Rae Estes from Culpeper on July 28, 1967. In February 1968 he was inducted into the Army and trained as an Aircraft Armament Repairman. Billy left for South Vietnam in early 1969 and was assigned to the 4th Battalion of the 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. The 4th Battalion served as an Aerial Rocket Artillery unit equipped with UH-1B Huey and AH-1G Cobra helicopter gunships. Only weeks from planned R&R, Billy died of an accidental gunshot wound on October 10, 1969, at Camp Eagle southeast of Hue and the headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division. His remains were returned to the United States and he was buried in Fairview Cemetery in Culpeper. In May 2022 Billy was re-interred at Culpeper National Cemetery at the request of his brother Ray Clements, a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, and widow Diana Rae Pilgrim. Diana Rae had remarried and lives in Culpeper with her husband David.

Billy Fincham rests in Section 13, Site 22, at Culpeper National Cemetery. He is also honored at the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, D.C., where his name is inscribed on Panel 17W of the Wall.

Note: Biographical information and photographs of Billy Fincham courtesy of his brother Ray Clements.

Submitted by: Jeff Joyce
WAA Volunteer

Help Us Honor Our Veterans!
Every profile takes extensive time and research to honor the heroes resting at Culpeper National Cemetery. Please SHARE this post directly using the Share button below!

Sharing original posts helps ensure more people see these stories and directly supports our mission to place a wreath on every grave.

🇺🇸 Support Wreaths Across America Culpeper: WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/VA0638

10/27/2026

Sharing for one of our WAA Sponsorship Groups!
Culpeper 4-H Swine Club
You can support this club and Wreaths Across America at Culpeper National Cemetery by sponsoring a wreath here: www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/VA0921P

Our club this year will be participating in Wreaths Across America as our club’s fundraiser and to honor our veterans resting at Culpeper National Cemetery. We are excited to continue supporting this meaningful cause and teaching our 4-H members the importance of remembering those who have served our country.

🇺🇸 Our Goal for 2026: 250 Wreaths!

Each wreath sponsorship costs $17, and $5 from every wreath sponsored through our club’s fundraising page goes back to the club to support our members and club activities.

How to Sponsor a Wreath:

1. Visit our club’s fundraising page:
https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/VA0921P

2. Choose to sponsor a wreath through the Culpeper 4-H Swine Club page.

3. Select the number of wreaths you would like to sponsor.

4. Complete your sponsorship by following the checkout instructions.

We encourage our members and families to consider sponsoring a wreath and sharing the link with friends, family, and others in the community. Every wreath helps us get closer to our goal of 250 and ensures that more of our local heroes are remembered.

We will also be holding a fundraiser in town to support this year’s efforts. More information about the fundraiser will be shared soon!

Wreaths Across America Day will be held on December 19th at the Culpeper National Cemetery at 12 noon.

10/24/2026

🇺🇸 OCTOBER 24th WREATH-O-METER! 🇺🇸

Our mission is to cover every headstone and honor all of our fallen heroes resting in Culpeper.

REMEMBER the Fallen. . . HONOR those who Serve. . . TEACH our children the value of Freedom.

🎯 Goal: 14,000 Wreaths
📊 Currently Sponsored: 1,379 Wreaths
📍 Wreaths Needed: 12,621 Wreaths

Each sponsorship is $17.00 and ensures that a veteran’s service and sacrifice are remembered this December 19th at Wreaths Across America at Culpeper National Cemetery

Help us reach our goal by sponsoring a wreath or sharing this post with family, friends, and community groups!

👉 Sponsor online here:
WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/VA0638

Every 4 Wreaths = 1 Extra Wreath Sponsored! 🇺🇸

Want to maximize your impact at Culpeper National Cemetery this year? Thanks to the $5 payback program, every time you sponsor a wreath, $5 goes directly toward another one.

When you sponsor 4 wreaths ($68 total), the accumulated $20 credit completely funds a 5th wreath for a hero! 🇺🇸

👉 Sponsor 4 wreaths today and honor 5 veterans: Wreaths AcrossAmerica.org/VA0638

Thank you for standing with us to
Remember, Honor, and Teach! ❤️🤍💙

10/23/2026

Remember-Honor-Teach
Remembering Those That Served
Honoring 250 Years of American Heroes
Wreaths Across America Culpeper National Cemetery

Today we remember John Charles Noel Critics, who served in the United States Merchant Marine. John was born on December 27, 1926, in Fort Kent, Maine, to Charles John Criticos and Edith Pelletier. His brother Martin was born in 1928. John was raised in Florida and Massachusetts and joined the United States Merchant Marine in December 1944. During World War II more than 240,000 mariners served aboard cargo ships ferrying supplies and troops around the world. Over 9,500 mariners perished and over 730 Merchant Marine ships were lost. John served as a cook aboard the S.S. Katherine B. Sherwood, a Liberty ship built by Delta Shipbuilding in New Orleans and launched in September 1944. In addition to duty in the Pacific John supported post-war reconstruction in Europe, delivering food and supplies to France. After leaving the Merchant Marine in April 1947 he was drafted into the Army in 1948 and assigned to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, until discharged in 1949. Over the years John was a Ford factory worker, a Boston-area gas company salesman, home builder, realtor and owner of the Amesbury neighborhood bar The Keg. In retirement, he settled in Las Vegas where he lived for 29 years, occasionally working part time as a floor sweeper for The Palace Station and as a taxi driver. He moved to Henrico, Virginia, in 2014 to be closer to his family. John is remembered as a devoted son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. A curious, lifelong learner, John read extensively, always learning new ideas and developing a better understanding of the world. He was a lifelong Red Sox and Patriots fan. John passed in Henrico on May 15, 2025, survived by his son David, daughter-in-law Angela, grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

John rests in Section CA, Row W5, Site E9, at Culpeper National Cemetery.

Note: Biographical information and photographs of John courtesy of his son David Critics.

Submitted by: Jeff Joyce
WAA Volunteer

Help Us Honor Our Veterans!
Every profile takes extensive time and research to honor the heroes resting at Culpeper National Cemetery. Please SHARE this post directly using the Share button below!

Sharing original posts helps ensure more people see these stories and directly supports our mission to place a wreath on every grave.

🇺🇸 Support Wreaths Across America Culpeper: WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/VA0638

10/22/2026

Today is October 22.
Today is your reminder to do a Buddy Check.

Each year during our Wreaths Across America at Culpeper National Cemetery ceremony we present a 22 A Day Honor Wreath.

22+ Veterans die by su***de everyday.
Veterans Crisis Line 24/7, confidential crisis support for Veterans and their loved ones.
Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online, or text 838255.

WAA CNC Raising awareness of 22+ A Day and Mental Health Issues with Veterans.

"There's no judgment here, just a battle buddy looking to get you through the rest of your journey"

10/22/2026

🇺🇸 OCTOBER 22nd WREATH-O-METER! 🇺🇸

Our mission is to cover every headstone and honor all of our fallen heroes resting in Culpeper.

REMEMBER the Fallen. . . HONOR those who Serve. . . TEACH our children the value of Freedom.

🎯 Goal: 14,000 Wreaths
📊 Currently Sponsored: 1,362 Wreaths
📍 Wreaths Needed: 12,638 Wreaths

Each sponsorship is $17.00 and ensures that a veteran’s service and sacrifice are remembered this December 19th at Wreaths Across America at Culpeper National Cemetery

Help us reach our goal by sponsoring a wreath or sharing this post with family, friends, and community groups!

👉 Sponsor online here:
WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/VA0638

Every 4 Wreaths = 1 Extra Wreath Sponsored! 🇺🇸

Want to maximize your impact at Culpeper National Cemetery this year? Thanks to the $5 payback program, every time you sponsor a wreath, $5 goes directly toward another one.

When you sponsor 4 wreaths ($68 total), the accumulated $20 credit completely funds a 5th wreath for a hero! 🇺🇸

👉 Sponsor 4 wreaths today and honor 5 veterans: Wreaths AcrossAmerica.org/VA0638

Thank you for standing with us to
Remember, Honor, and Teach! ❤️🤍💙

10/21/2026

Please help us to REMEMBER-HONOR-TEACH at Culpeper National Cemetery on Saturday, December 19, 2026.

Why: A person dies twice: once when they take their final breath and the last time their name is ever spoken. We owe it to our fallen heroes to speak their name when we place a wreath on their grave. Remember our fallen United States Veterans, Honor those who serve, Teach your children the value of freedom.

This year's theme is Remember Me.

Sponsoring a wreath is easy.
Each wreath is $17.00.
For every $17 wreath sponsorship made through the link below, $5 will automatically be applied to the sponsorship of an additional veteran's wreath for CNC.

www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/VA0638

If you do not want to do it online: Mail a check.
Wreaths Across America
PO Box 249, Columbia
Falls, ME 04623
Make checks out to: Wreaths Across America
Memo Line: VACNCC VA0638

Facts:
*Culpeper National Cemetery is a Federal Cemetery. The Federal Govt does NOT provide wreaths for the graves.
*Culpeper National Cemetery has 29.6 acres of land with over 14,000 interments.
*Culpeper National Cemetery has never had full coverage. Let's make 2026 one to remember with full coverage.
*As of now, only 1 in 10 heroes will be honored with a wreath.
*Our CNC Veterans deserve to be remembered.
*When we lay a wreath, WE SAY THEIR NAMES.
*We are not here to decorate graves but to REMEMBER their lives!
*Everyone is welcome to join us on December 19 12noon. National Wreaths Across America at Culpeper National Cemetery.

Please help us spread the word. Like and share this post!
All Wreath Orders are due Wednesday, Dec 2.

Encourage your friends, family and businesses to support WAA CNC through tax deductible donations.

www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/VA0638

Please message us if you have questions.
Thank you for your support!
Sharon C. & Jennifer S.