“We are not here to ‘decorate graves.’ We’re here to remember not their deaths, but their lives.”
Winter made a startling appearance on December 17th, with sheets of ice, gusting wind and freezing rain throughout the DC metro area. Despite the road closures and weather alerts, members of the VMSI family joined thousands of volunteers who made their way to Arlington National Cemetery to participate in the paramount task of honoring over 245,000 heroes laid to rest just outside our nation’s capital.
What began as a small, discreet wreath-laying event in 1992, has blossomed into a thriving non-profit organization whose mission is to Remember our fallen US veterans, Honor those who serve and Teach our children the value of freedom. According to their website, Wreaths Across America “coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as over 1,100 additional locations in all 50 US states, at sea, and abroad”.
Each year, while placing wreaths on gravesites, Wreaths Across American encourages volunteers to speak the name etched on the grave stones and silently thank them for their sacrifice. Over two hundred thousand active duty servicemen, veterans and their families have been laid to rest since the first soldier was buried in 1864, and we are indebted to each and every one of them. Wreaths Across America vows to never forget their struggles, or their names.
“This nation will remain the land
of the free only so long as it is the
home of the brave.” ~ Elmer Davis
One particular grave stood out among the rest for VMSI Team Member Danielle Conklin and her family. Danielle’s grandfather served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam and Korean Wars and was declared Missing in Action after his plane was shot down over North Vietnam on July 29, 1966. Twenty-two years later, the remnants of his plane were discovered and Lt. Col. Bernard Conklin was finally returned home. A service was held at his gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery to commemorate his bravery.
Though we celebrate the lives of each hero in Arlington National Cemetery during National Wreaths Across America Day, VMSI thanks every Veteran, past and present, for their sacrifices as well as the burdens they carry every day.