Photo By Damany Coleman | Marines with the Single Marine Program out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune take a...... read more read more
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ARLINGTON, Va. - They grabbed wreaths in twos and threes, sharing them with all nearby. Some in uniform, others in their warmest winter garments; they wandered the cemetery looking for the bare headstones of men and women who have given their lives fighting for America’s freedoms. When they found the right one, the name on the headstone was read and the wreath was laid with care, reverence and thanks.
Thousands of service members, retirees and families traveled from across the nation for the annual wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Dec. 11. Members of the Single Marine Program from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune attended the event to participate as well.
This year, a total of 24,000 wreaths were laid in several sections, including the most recent Section 60, where more than 600 service members who have been lost in the current war on terrorism were buried.
The Wreaths Across America founders, Morrill and Karen Worcester, made more than 20 stops traveling from their home in Maine, all the way down to Arlington, Va., every year.
“It’s very emotional,” said Karen. “The heart of this country is beating very strongly here.”
Pfc. Jasmyn Smith, a supply school student aboard Camp Johnson, said this was her second time attending the wreath laying ceremony. Last year, she attended before she joined the Marine Corps.
“It was exciting and very moving,” said Smith. “I was happy to be there, but at the same time it was sad to see families who were missing their loved ones. I felt it would be nice of me to support the wreath laying.”
Smith added that the ceremony was a different experience now as a Marine.
“There is a lot to live up to as a Marine,” said Smith. “I saw a little girl and her mother at a gravesite. Her father had passed away. She was so young. I respect the family because that’s a lot to go through. You see people from all branches came together as one here.”
For Pvt. Lewis Keith III, a logistics operations school student aboard Camp Johnson, it was a day to not only remember a fallen hero, but a family member.
Keith traveled to Arlington, Va., for the ceremony with the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Single Marine Program and was privileged enough to lay a wreath on his grandfather’s grave, retired Army Lt. Col. Lewis Keith I - who served in the Vietnam War and passed away from health complications in 2005.
“My unit asked who wanted to lay wreaths on fallen service members, and I thought it would be a good thing to do, so I volunteered to go,” said Keith. “It wasn’t until I told my parents I was going when I found out my grandfather was there too.”
Keith added that it was shocking to find out his grandfather was buried here, and it brought back memories from the last time they spoke five years ago, before his death.
“I miss him a lot," said Keith. “I wasn’t able to spend a lot of time with him throughout my life because he lived in North Carolina, and I was in California.”
Keith said that his father was in the Navy, and his grandfather and great-grandfather were both in the Army. He only remembers hearing good things about the military, so he joined the Marine Corps to "beat" them all.
“The wreath laying ceremony is an amazing idea,” said Keith. “Just being there and knowing that I have family there with other people who fought for what we’re now fighting for, is just a really good thing. The Marine Corps has its traditions and everyone is family.”
Cpl. Jason Hodge, a platoon sergeant with Financial Management School aboard Camp Johnson and SMP ambassador, said that he admires the young Marines who attended the SMP trip to attend the ceremony.
“We’re all Marines, and we all fight, but not everybody will take time out of a weekend to lay wreaths for four hours in the freezing weather,” said Hodge. “I have a lot of respect for the ones that participated.”
Hodge, a rifleman with his unit added that the fallen service members in Arlington National Cemetery are more than just infantryman on the frontlines.
“It’s not just infantry that’s out there,” said Hodge. “There are disbursing, motor transportation, supply, combat camera – we’re all Marines and we all fight.”
Hodge added that he wanted to thank everyone who came out this year to attend the SMP trip. Next year, Wreaths Across America organization’s goal is to lay a wreath on every headstone in the cemetery – a grand total of more than 300,000. Hodge plans to attend as well.
Another SMP ambassador, 1st Sgt. Robert Sands, company first sergeant with Headquarters and Service Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, said he has attended approximately a dozen SMP trips but this was his first wreath laying ceremony.
“I felt the wreath laying was remarkable, mainly for Section 60,” said Sands. “That’s where we’ve lost a lot of our comrades in today’s wars, Iraq and Afghanistan. It meant a lot to me. I’ve lost friends there, Marines and sailors. I wouldn’t call it a celebration, but remembering them and thinking about what the family is going through during the holidays is remarkable.”
Sands said when families see events like this on the news; it has a major impact on them. They see that not only are they remembering their children, but so are their fellow Marines, airman, sailors and coastguardsmen.
Sands added that saying the event was "important" is an understatement.
“It’s more than important. The young boys and girls on this SMP trip have to remember, they are our future,” said Sands. “If they don’t remember and see what’s going on, our history is going to repeat itself negatively. It’s OK to repeat history, but you want to repeat a positive history, something that makes a major impact. When these young Marines see what these families are going through; mothers, fathers sisters and brothers saying ‘Thank you for your service,’ it means a lot. It’s going to make a difference.”
| Date Taken: | 12.11.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 12.21.2010 10:10 |
| Story ID: | 62395 |
| Location: | VA, US |
| Web Views: | 38 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Thousands of service members, families brave cold to help honor fallen heroes, by Damany Coleman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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