Photo By Scott Pauley | Airman First Class Tiara Davis renders a salute to a fallen guardsman after laying a...... read more read more
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ARLINGTON, Va. - In the shadows of the giant memorials that surround it, Arlington National Cemetery profoundly reminds visitors of the true cost of freedom with its expansive views and countless headstones lined in rows. Every December since 1992 Wreaths Across America has added to that awe-inspiring view by placing Christmas wreaths on the graves of every member interred there.
This year, 15 current and five former members of the Air Force Honor Guard participated by laying wreaths on the graves of fallen guardsmen and their family members.
Lt. Col. Peter Tritsch, Air Force Honor Guard commander, said the number of guardsmen buried at Arlington may surprise some people, and this solemn event gave current guardsmen a chance to recognize those who came before them.
“What many people don’t realize is there are at least eight prior ceremonial guardsmen in Arlington, and on top of those eight there are at least six dependents that passed as children when their parents were here as guardsmen,” said Tritsch. “We went to each of those plots, and as we got to each plot we talked about the person and what the person did for the unit.”
Senior Airman Joseph Wood, Air Force Honor Guard Training Flight Instructor, said the camaraderie between guardsmen is something many people may not consider, but it is what holds the unit together.
“The honor guardsmen, we’re a decent size unit, but we’ve always been a very close unit because not a lot of people come into this unit,” said Wood. “No matter what, we always become family and become so close. I brought it up with the commander about honoring those that have come, because we want to make sure that we don’t forget those that are here [at Arlington]. They are our family, we need to make sure that we represent them, not only for the past and present Airmen but also for those who have represented Airmen before.”
One of the honored included Donald Ray Blackney, a prior guardsman and security forces member who died in California in an accident. Retired Air Force Master Sgt. Luis Rivera was Blackney’s roommate during their time at the honor guard. Rivera shared some personal stories and described the kind of person his friend was before laying a wreath on his tombstone.
“Donald Ray Blackney joined the Air Force right around the same time I did. He was security forces - security police - and a couple of classes behind me,” recalled Rivera. “He was very energetic, very enthusiastic, with a big heart. Like any family we would tease each other back and forth, and even though with some people that teasing would rub them and strike a nerve, it never struck a nerve with him. He was always happy-go-lucky, and a great guy. When you talk about somebody who’d take his shirt of his back and give it to you, he defined that.”
Rivera attended with several guardsmen who served at the same time as him, and offered advice and insight to current guardsmen. He urged them to absorb the significance in the moments of their incredibly unique job and the service they provide.
“One of the things I point to for them to relate is if they’ve seen Saving Private Ryan at the end when he says, ‘Tell me I earned it,’ really embrace that because the impact that you have, when you’re out in a full honors ceremony, is really paying tribute to a hero,” said Rivera. “The significance in touching those family members who are there to mourn and celebrate their loved one, that is where it’s at. Just from talking to people after ceremonies and being in the military, people appreciate that and you couldn’t pay me to do anything else.”
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.16.2015 11:00 |
| Story ID: | 184661 |
| Location: | ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 89 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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