Wreaths Across America at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery

06/19/2026

REMEMBER ME

This week, we pause to remember Carroll E. McCullah.

Branch of Service: United States Marine Corps
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Wars: World War II and Korea
Years of Military Service: 1942 - 1950
Born: February 18, 1921
Died: April 21, 2017 (age 96)

Today we honor the life and service of Lieutenant Colonel Carroll E. McCullah, a highly decorated United States Marine Corps aviator who courageously served his country during World War II and the Korean War.

Commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1942, McCullah became a fighter pilot with Marine Fighting Squadron 122 (VMF-122), flying the legendary FG-1A Corsair in the Pacific Theater. During World War II, he earned the Air Medal and was credited with two aerial victories.

On November 21, 1944, while flying a combat mission from Peleliu Airfield in the Palau Islands, Captain McCullah was forced to ditch his Corsair, Bureau Number 14053, on a reef off Koror Island. He survived the crash without injury, was rescued, and returned to duty.

For nearly 68 years, the aircraft remained hidden beneath the waters of Palau. In 2012, local divers discovered the remarkably intact Corsair resting upright on the seafloor. Investigators later confirmed the aircraft's identity through its cockpit identification plate, reconnecting the historic wreck to the Marine pilot who survived its final mission.

McCullah continued his military career through the Korean War, ultimately retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Throughout his distinguished service, he earned numerous decorations, including six Distinguished Flying Crosses, and left a lasting legacy of courage, leadership, and dedication to his fellow Marines.

Today, Lt. Col. Carroll E. McCullah rests at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, Section 5, Site 1800. We remember his service, honor his sacrifice, and ensure that his story continues to be shared for future generations.

Read More: https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/fg/14053.html

Behind every name is a life lived, a family loved, and a legacy of service.

Today, we remember Thomas not just for their military service, but for the person they were and the impact they made on those around them.

Please join us in honoring and remembering Carroll E. McCullah.

06/08/2026

REMEMBER ME

This week, we pause to remember Thomas J. Pechacek.

Branch of Service: United States Marine Corps
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Years of Military Service: 1939-1946

Thomas Joseph Pechacek was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from high school in 1937. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in November 1939 and completed recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina.

After assignments in Cuba, San Diego, and Hawaii, he was transferred to Wake Island in August 1941 with the 1st Defense Battalion. As a communications Marine, he maintained telephone lines and field telephones supporting the island's defenses.

When Japan attacked Wake Island on December 8, 1941, Pechacek endured fifteen days of air raids and combat. During the Japanese invasion on December 23, 1941, he was wounded in the left leg by shrapnel. Following the surrender of Wake Island, he became a prisoner of war.

For nearly four years, Pechacek endured harsh conditions in Japanese POW camps in China, Korea, and Japan. He performed forced labor, including loading salt onto ships and working in coal mines on Hokkaido. He was finally liberated on September 16, 1945, and returned to the United States. After hospitalization, he was discharged from the Marine Corps in January 1946 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Following the war, he joined Pan American Airways and later worked at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, supporting America's early space programs, including Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. After a 28-year civilian career, he retired to Melbourne, Florida.

In recognition of wounds received during the defense of Wake Island, he was awarded the Purple Heart in 2018.

Thomas Pechacek passed away on July 22, 2019, at the age of 98 and is buried at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, Section A-B4, Row B, Site 1.

Read More: https://pacificwrecks.com/people/veterans/pechacek/

Behind every name is a life lived, a family loved, and a legacy of service.

Today, we remember Thomas not just for their military service, but for the person they were and the impact they made on those around them.

Please join us in honoring and remembering Thomas.

04/29/2026

💜 April is National Military Children Month 💜

Behind every service member is a family and often a child making sacrifices most will never see.

Military children embody courage, flexibility, and strength far beyond their years. This month, we recognize and thank them for their role in defending our freedom.

At Wreaths Across America – Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, we are committed to ensuring their loved ones are never forgotten.

Join us in honoring their families and preserving their legacy:
https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/19423/overview/?relatedId=15629&fbclid=IwY2xjawQ58qhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFudTlTM0tBSVFROExDSVl5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmxUXccdnpPVHsbonDb30ETv-vxKESC5mjVE41B5IgsvQso3sEI4xrFCXarr_aem_JCbSNkSjcWb2cPtAYDp06Q

💜 Because their sacrifice matters too.

Wreaths Across America ("WAA") coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies every December to "Remember, Honor, and Teach" about the sacrifices made by our veterans and their families. Please check out this page to learn how you can help by sponsoring Veterans Remembrance Wreaths or by joining us on Decembe...

04/22/2026

April is a special time - National Military Children Month 💜

Military children learn strength, character, and resilience by watching their parents serve our nation.

At Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, we see the impact of service across generations. We honor not just the fallen, but the families and the children who carry their legacy forward.

You can be part of that mission by helping us remember and honor our heroes.

💜 Teach them. Honor them. Remember together.

04/15/2026

💜 Military Children Serve Too 💜

April is National Military Children Month, a time to pause and recognize the quiet strength of the children who support our nation’s heroes every day.

Frequent moves. New schools. Time apart from a parent serving our country. These challenges shape some of the most resilient young Americans.

At Wreaths Across America – CCNC, we are proud to teach the next generation the value of freedom and remembrance.

💜 Honor their journey. Remember their sacrifice.

04/08/2026

April is the Month of the Military Child a time to recognize the over 1.6 million military children who share in the sacrifice of service.

They are strong. They are adaptable. They are part of the legacy of service.

At Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, we honor not only those who served, but the families who stood behind them, especially the children who grew up with courage beyond their years.

Join us in honoring their story and teaching future generations the value of freedom.

💜 This month, and always, we honor our military children.

04/01/2026

April is National Military Children Month 💜

Today, we honor the strength, resilience, and sacrifice of military children. These young heroes serve in their own way, through moves, long separations, and the challenges that come with military life.

At Wreaths Across America – Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, we remember that behind every service member is a family and often, a child standing strong beside them.

Help us continue our mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach the next generation.

💜 We don’t know them all, but we owe them all, including their children.

03/30/2026

🇺🇸🌿 Wreaths Across America 2026 Theme: Remember Me 🌿🇺🇸

At Wreaths Across America Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, this year’s theme, Remember Me, calls each of us to take remembrance personally.

It is not just about placing a wreath.
It is about saying a name.
It is about learning a story.
It is about ensuring that their legacy lives on.

Behind every headstone is a life of service, sacrifice, love, and family. When we pause, kneel, and speak their name aloud, we fulfill a sacred promise that they will never be forgotten.

Remember Me challenges us to carry their memory beyond one ceremony in December. It asks us to teach the next generation, to share their stories throughout the year, and to live in a way that honors their sacrifice.

At Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, remembrance is not a moment it is a mission.

Join us in keeping their memory alive.

Sponsor a wreath and be part of honoring them all:
👉 https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/FL0320

03/29/2026

🇺🇸🎖 National Vietnam War Veterans Day 🎖🇺🇸

Today, Wreaths Across America Cape Canaveral National Cemetery proudly honors the brave men and women who served during the Vietnam War.

On March 29, we recognize the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of Vietnam Veterans and their families. These heroes answered our nation’s call during a challenging and often divisive time in history. Many served with honor and returned home without the welcome they deserved. Today, we say clearly and gratefully: Welcome Home.

At Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and honor all who served in country, in the air, at sea, and in support roles around the world. Their service and resilience will never be forgotten.

To our Vietnam Veterans, thank you for your bravery, your strength, and your unwavering commitment to our nation.

Welcome home. 🇺🇸

03/27/2026

🇺🇸🔴 R.E.D. Friday – March 27 🔴🇺🇸

R.E.D. Friday reminds us to Remember Everyone Deployed.

As March comes to a close, our gratitude remains constant. To every service member currently deployed we see your dedication, we honor your commitment, and we thank you for your service.

Wreaths Across America Cape Canaveral National Cemetery stands in solidarity with you and your families.

Wear red. Say a prayer. Send a message. Show your support. ❤️🇺🇸