Arlington

(December 2011)
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

Every year in December, a wreath company in Maine *http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/) donates thousands of wreathes to Arlington National Cemetery, and to many other cemeteries across the country. Donations from the public also make this event possible. Joel and I did this in 2007, and we had the opportunity to do it again this year. It is an honor, not to mention humbling experience to go lay wreathes on the graves of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

To avoid getting up at the crack of dawn on Saturday and driving to DC, we went up Friday night and stayed with my sister and her husband. Joel got up early to report to Arlington (he was with his CAP unit), and Logan and I followed later (almost too much later). Luckily my sister's apartment was right next to a metro station, so it made getting to Arlington very easy. Once Logan and I were there, it was quite a site. I counted at least 6 empty 18-wheelers that had already unloaded all their wreathes. The white headstones of Arlington were simply decorated with a green wreath, and a red bow. Its is an amazing site. And the number of people out there to volunteer- wow. It wasn't as cold this morning as it was last time we did it, but that never slows people down. Joel made sure our neighbor and members of his team had wreaths, which of course they did. This was a heartbreaking moment; wives and families of some recently KIA, including some of the SEALS, were there. My heart ached for them as they sat, stood, gathered around the markers (for those that did not have headstones yet) and headstones. My emotions started to overwhelm, and I shed a few tears as well.

A good friend of mine told me her grandfather was buried at Arlington, so I told her I would lay a wreath for him. Arlington is divided into sites, and each headstone has a number. She was able to give me all this information and I found her grandfather.

I don't know if we will make it this year, but if we get the chance, I would do it again.