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Captain Gordon R. Nakagawa Scholarship Fundraiser - Wreaths Across America - Living Wreath Fundraiser
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The Marina Foundation, through the Wreaths Across America (WAA) program, is selling living wreaths to benefit the Captain Gordon R. Nakagawa Scholarship for Marina High School. By purchasing a wreath through this program, WAA will donate $5 to the scholarship for each wreath purchased.
TO DONATE (sponsor):
Choose the "Sponsor Wreaths" red tab (next to the "Volunteer" tab) at the top of this page. Once you click on the "Sponsor Wreaths" tab, the name of the Fundraiser and Group ID will appear at the top of that page: "CA0058P-Capt Gordon Nakagawa Scholarship (CA0058P) |22364|". You will be given several options for purchasing wreaths ("Number of Wreaths to Sponsor").
NOTE: If you prefer to purchase a Patriot Pair or another type of wreath "More Options" are listed further down on this page. Click on the one you want, and it will take you to another page which will also have the Fundraiser information at the top.
The next section you can choose to either donate to Arlington National Cemetery or another cemetery of your choice. ("Location to Support").
If you have any questions, please get in touch with us and we will be happy to help you get through this process.
We hope you will take part in this very worthy cause to honor Gordon Nakagawa as well as other veterans, and to support Marina High School.
We thank you for your support.
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About Gordon R. Nakagawa, USN (Retired)
Captain Gordon Ross Nakagawa, USN (ret), was a career naval officer. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, and the Naval Postgraduate School with a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, where he also returned to teach in Operations Research.
Captain Nakagawa’s distinguished career as a naval officer included flying 185 combat missions during four combat deployments to Vietnam. In December 1972, his aircraft was struck by enemy fire, resulting in him being detained as a prisoner of war in Hanoi. He later became Commanding Officer of the Naval Air Station Pt. Mugu. He coordinated all major design competitions for Naval Aviation at Naval Air Systems Command, and in his final active-duty assignment, was Chair for Tactical Analysis at Naval Postgraduate School Monterey.
During his service, Captain Nakagawa was awarded two Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, two Meritorious Service Medals, Distinguished Marksman (Rifle) Medal, Distinguished Pistol Medal, POW Medal and various other campaign, service and individual awards.
He was elected to the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Board serving 8 1/2 years and is a Board member Emeritus of Leadership Monterey Peninsula. He was granted a Leadership Recognition Award from the California Association of Leadership Programs. He is a 2000 California State University Monterey Bay Distinguished Fellow, a 2004 Monterey County Veteran of the Year, and 2006 Marina Citizen of the Year.
Through all his endeavors, he always strived for greater understanding and excellence. These two $10,000 scholarships are awarded with regard to his dedication to his country, community and higher education. The Marina Foundation takes great pride in awarding The Gordon R. Nakagawa Scholarships.
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The National Wreaths Across America Day ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024. On that day, volunteers will be laying wreaths at grave sites at Arlington National Cemetery and at cemeteries throughout the country.
Sponsor Wreaths
Volunteer
Invite
MISSION BBQ Customers Donate $352,930 to Sponsor Veterans’ Wreaths for 2025
142 participating locations will receive veterans’ wreaths because of the generous donations in the communities where MISSION BBQ customers support the mission.
Wreaths Across America Honors “Flying Tiger Line Flight 739” with a Special Remembrance Ceremony
On Sunday, March 16, 2025, Wreaths Across America remembers the 63nd anniversary of the Disappearance of Flying Tiger Line Flight 739. Join us for a special event at 2 p.m. on our official Facebook page and over Wreaths Across America Radio.
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In Memoriam
by Kathy Knoll for William Knoll, Army, Honored by California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery
Thank you for your service to our great nation. We love and miss you dearly.
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Memory
by Jeanne Nakagawa for Gordon Nakagawa, Navy, Captain, Honored by California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery
Check out 126 "Remember" recent messages from our supporters. Click "View Remember Wall" to see them all.
Location Information
Arlington National Cemetery
Memorial Dr
Fort Myer, VA 22211, United States
Click here for the Arlington National Cemetery Page
Directions to Cemetery
Cemetery Access Points
• We encourage volunteers to use all four entrances to access Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 14. The Memorial Ave. entrance, Ord & Weitzel gate, Service Complex gate and Old Post Chapel gate on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall (DoD ID card holders only) will open to the public at 8 a.m.
• Despite ongoing construction, the Service Complex gate will be open.
• The main entrance to ANC, located at 1 Memorial Avenue, is located at the end of Memorial Avenue, just west of Arlington Memorial Bridge and Potomac Park. It is a 5-minute walk from the Arlington Cemetery Metro stop; walk west on Memorial Ave.
• The Ord & Weitzel gate is located on the cemetery's north side near the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima). It is a 15-minute walk from the Rosslyn Metro stop; walk south on N. Meade St., across Arlington Blvd., and through the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial Park.
• DoD ID card holders must present their DoD ID to go through the specially marked DoD screening lanes at all entrance points.
Parking Instructions
To register click the VOLUNTEER button.
Arlington National Cemetery will not require registration of each volunteer for National Wreaths Across America Day in 2024.
PARKING INSTRUCTIONS
Metro
• We encourage volunteers to use Metro transportation.
• To avoid congestion at the Arlington Cemetery Metro stop, we recommend exiting via the Rosslyn and Pentagon stations and walking to the cemetery. It is a short 15-minute walk from these locations to one of the cemetery entrances.
• The best option is to take the Metro stop closest to the gate you plan to enter: Pentagon Metro for the Service Complex gate, Arlington Cemetery Metro for the main entrance, and Rosslyn Metro for the Ord & Weitzel gate.
• If exiting at Rosslyn, you must enter the cemetery via the Ord & Weitzel gate by walking along the North Meade Street sidewalks. If exiting at the Pentagon, you must enter through the cemetery’s Service Complex gate entrance by walking along North Rotary Road.
• Volunteers traveling to the event by Metro are encouraged to purchase fare ahead of time. The best option, to avoid lines, is SmarTrip mobile pay.
• Please refer to WMATA for metro service information and route planning.
Driving/Parking
• To ensure a safe and secure environment for our visitors and employees, NO vehicular traffic will be permitted inside the cemetery for the duration of the event on Dec. 14.
• WAA will provide shuttle bus transportation from Pentagon North to drop-off locations east of the Service Complex gate.
• Limited public parking will be available at the Pentagon North and South Parking and Hayes Parking. Wreaths Across America volunteers and signage will be positioned in the parking lots, guiding visitors to walk to the nearest cemetery entrances.
• For those parking in Pentagon South Parking, we recommend walking to the cemetery’s Service Complex entrance for screening and entry to the grounds. For those parking in Pentagon North Parking, we recommend walking to the cemetery’s main entrance on Memorial Ave. using the Route 27 pedestrian walkway.
ADA Accessibility
• Those with handicapped plates/placards will need to go to Pentagon North Parking, where their pass will be verified. They will then be directed to the ANC Welcome Center parking garage. The ANC Welcome Center parking garage will be available for handicapped personnel from 6-7 a.m. on a first-come-first-serve basis. After 7 a.m., drivers will be directed to other parking options. Please do not arrive earlier than 6 a.m.
• The ANC Welcome Center parking garage is reserved for handicapped parking from 6-7 a.m. or until full. After 7 a.m., no more vehicles will be allowed to park in the parking garage.
• Only those with handicapped plates/placards are permitted to park in the ANC Welcome Center parking garage. All others will be directed to the Pentagon North and South parking lots and the Hayes parking lot.
• If the ANC parking garage is full, ADA-accessible volunteers should park in the Pentagon North Parking lot. WAA shuttles will run from the Pentagon North Parking lot to the east of the Service Complex gate.
BUSES
There will be no bus parking available at ANC or Pentagon Parking. Volunteers arriving by bus will need to be dropped off at a predetermined access point and park off-site.
Ride Share
• For volunteers who plan to arrive via a ride-share (e.g., Uber, Lyft), the drop-off location is the Hayes lot in Pentagon City (880 Army Navy Dr.). From this point, volunteers must walk to the cemetery’s Service Complex gate entrance.
Ceremony and Volunteer Information
To register click the VOLUNTEER button.
Arlington National Cemetery will not require registration of each volunteer for National Wreaths Across America Day in 2024.
To provide as many people as possible with the opportunity to place a wreath on National Wreaths Across America Day, each volunteer will receive one wreath to place on a veteran's grave.
REMINDER: Sunday, Dec. 8th is Family Pass Holder Day at Arlington. This is limited to Family Pass Holders only. NO registration is required for Family Pass Holder Day.
Arlington National Cemetery is the only participating cemetery where a Family Pass Holder Day is held in conjunction with WAA.
Family Pass Holders are people who have an immediate next of kin laid to rest at Arlington. If you have questions about criteria or how to become a FPH, please contact Arlington National Cemetery directly.
Several people have asked if other National Cemeteries offer Family Passes or a Family Pass Holder Day. Arlington National Cemetery is not part of the National Cemetery Administration, it is run by the Department of the Army. It is the only WAA participating cemetery where this week before placement happens.
For more information, please visit https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/WAA/Family-Pass-Holder-Day.
Wreath Placement Schedule for 2024
8:00 AM – Wreath laying starts
10:00 AM – Wreath presentation at President Taft’s gravesite
10:30 AM – Wreath presentation at President Kennedy’s and family’s gravesite
10:45 AM – Wreath presentation at Robert Kennedy’s gravesite
11:00 AM – Wreath presentation at Ted Kennedy’s gravesite
11:30 AM – Wreath presentation at U.S.S. Maine mast (LEO group photo, too)
12:00 PM – Wreath presentation at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Wreath Placement Plan for Jewish Graves at Arlington National Cemetery
If you are a family member who wishes that their loved one NOT receive a veteran’s wreath due to personal or religious beliefs, please get in touch with Wreaths Across America’s Customer Service Team at (877) 385-9504 to make this request.
In accordance with and out of respect for Jewish custom, which is not to place living flowers, wreaths or laurels on grave sites, we ask that volunteers not place wreaths on the headstones of servicemembers with a Star of David. Instead, please take a moment to stop, say their name, and thank them for their service. Please note: If you come to a headstone with a Star of David and a wreath is already placed there, please leave it, as this may have been placed directly by family or friends.
DoD ID Cardholders
• Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall will be accessible to DoD ID card holders only; however, parking will be limited to the Tri-Services parking lot located across from the Spates Community Center. The sole entry point to the cemetery from Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall will be the Old Post Chapel gate.
• This year, all other gates to the cemetery (Memorial Ave., Ord & Weitzel, and Service Complex) will have designated DoD ID card holder lanes for security screening.
Lodging Information
Discounted lodging information for volunteers can be found by contacting Vivian Cohencious at PlaceMakr at vcohencious@placemakr.com.
Our Locations
ARLING - Arlington National Cemetery
Welcome to the Wreaths Across America location page for Arlington National Cemetery. As one of the largest veteran cemeteries in the United States, the goal of placing a wreath on every marker is lofty. Our volunteers are committed to Remembering and Honoring our nation’s veterans through the laying of wreaths on the graves of our country’s fallen heroes and the act of saying the name of each veteran aloud. Please help Wreaths Across America reach our goal by sponsoring a veteran's wreath and register to join us on December 13, 2025 at 12:00 pm (Wreath Placement 8:00 AM EST) as we place the veterans' wreaths.
CACACV - California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery
Welcome to CACACV - California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery and thank you deeply for helping us with our goal to honor as many veterans as possible on Wreaths Across America Day, December 13, 2025 (Wreath Placement Immediately Following Ceremony). Please click "View" to learn more about our effort or to volunteer to help or click "Sponsor" to purchase wreaths that will be laid on the graves of our fallen heroes by our loyal volunteers.
