At a special presentation on behalf of the Shopko Foundation, Kalispell Shopko store manager Mike Beard presented the Civil Air Patrol Squadron 53 with a grant check on Veterans Day.

On hand were Deputy Commander Chuck Statum, Cadets James Duram and Cadet Tyeler Dana, Beard, and Squadron Commander Bob Schneller.

The money will support the squadron’s Wreaths Across America Program to lay more than 900 memorial wreaths in the Flathead Valley.

“I am very proud of our cadets and seniors who worked tirelessly over the past six months at fundraisers across the Flathead Valley to enable the squadron to place over 900 memorial wreaths on our veterans’ graves,” Schneller said.

In 2014, more than 700,000 memorial wreaths were laid at more than 1,000 locations across the country. Civil Air Patrol Squadrons across the country will hold celebrations Saturday, Dec. 12. In Kalispell, the ceremony will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial at Depot Park. The public is invited.