Thirty-five Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) Keesler students, instructors and staff volunteered for the 2017 Laying of the Wreaths at the Biloxi National Cemetery in Biloxi Dec 2.

Along with other area volunteers, CNATTU Keesler service members spent more than 20 hours unpacking, preparing and pre-staging more than 17,000 holiday wreaths before participating in the ceremony, according to CNATTU Keesler event coordinator Chief Aerographer's Mate Roxanne Cuttill.

"We placed more wreaths than any other year," said Cuttill. "Volunteers from the community, from Keesler Air Force Base and from CNATTU Keesler made this possible, and I'm proud to be part of this community-wide event."

The eventhosted by Wreaths for Biloxi National Cemetery, is in its fifth year and began with a short ceremony including the national anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, an invocation and history of theprogram. After the ceremony, CNATTU Keesler service members, veterans, other service members and community residents placed the wreaths on gravesites.

"It is a privilege to be here on this awesome morning, to honor the men and women who sacrificed for our great country," said Senior Chief Aerographer's Mate Anthony Mazzulo, CNATTU Keesler senior enlisted leader.

Biloxi National Cemetery was established in 1934. The 54-acre property is located in Biloxi, Mississippi on the grounds of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center near Keesler Air Force Base.

CNATTU Keesler is a training unit of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. CNATT develops, delivers and supports aviation technical training at 27 sites located throughout the continental United States and Japan.

CNATT is the largest training center under Naval Education and Training Command and is a technical training agent for the Naval Aviation Enterprise, an organization designed to advance and sustain naval aviation warfighting capabilities at an affordable cost.

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