Wreaths Across America's Kid's Corner Presents Cadence Smeltzer


The three objectives of the Wreaths Across America mission are to remember our fallen heroes, honor those who currently serve, and teach younger generations the value of freedom. It’s that last objective that most would agree is vital. President Ronald Reagan may have said it best when he said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

More and more families participate with Wreaths Across America in wreath-laying ceremonies across the country, and about a third of the organizations’ volunteers are young people. In a monthly feature called Kid’s Corner, Wreaths Across America recognizes youth volunteers who step up to do their part, making sure no hometown hero is forgotten. You can read their stories here on our website, hear more of their interview on Wreaths Radio on Friday mornings during the Wreaths Radio Morning Show, and check out some of their photos on our social media pages.

11-year-old Cadence Smeltzer is a military child who takes the mission to remember, honor, and teach to heart. Her father serves in the Air Force. “My family goes back to the Revolutionary War,” Cadence shares of her family’s military lineage. “My great-grandfather served in the Korean War, and his brother was a prisoner of war, a Purple Heart recipient and he served in World War II. My Dad’s been serving for over twenty years. Just the thought of people forgetting my Dad is just sad.”

Cadence understands the importance of the mission to remember, honor, and teach. She’s been volunteering for Wreaths Across America for three years and has increased her wreath sponsorships every year to cover all the veterans’ headstones in Yorktown National Cemetery. This year, she’s reached her goal and started on supporting a second participating location, Cedar Grove. Cadence and her Mom have been producing videos to share with her supporters. Some of the videos have been educational as Cadence takes her viewers along with her on “field trips” to the cemeteries she works to cover. She’s garnered quite a bit of media attention and her local Sheriff shared her posts too! You can help Cadence with wreath sponsorship by visiting her sponsorship group page, Freedom’s Cadence.

Thanks, Cadence, for helping us remember, honor, and teach. You can hear more from our Kid’s Corner interviews in our Kid’s Corner special reports on Fun Fridays at 9:15 AM EST during the Wreaths Across America Radio Morning Show.