3rd TBX honors the fallen at Arlington National Cemetery

Photo By Chief Warrant Officer Stephen Vickers | Soldiers from the Army Reserve’s 3rd Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), pay respect to the fallen with a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetary, Fort Myer, Va., July 9, 2016.  

FORT MYER, VA, UNITED STATES

07.26.2016

Story by Capt. Sean Delpech 

310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command

Story by 3rd TBX UPAR CW2 Steve Vickers

FORT MYER, Va. – Soldiers from the Army Reserve’s 3rd Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), families, and friends gathered at Arlington National Cemetery to pay special tribute to the fallen recently.

Arlington National Cemetery is one of the nation's most sacred shrines honoring Veterans and their families who have sacrificed their lives in service to their country.

In keeping with their primary mission, and to preserve the dignity of the services being conducted at Arlington, Command Sgt. Major Joseph L. Legra, the senior enlisted advisor to the 3rd TBX, planned the event with Maj. Jenniffer Jack, 3rd TBX chaplain, in an effort to have a few select Soldiers from the brigade ranks take part in the rare and solemn opportunity of laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The 3d TBX recently participated in the 2016 U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition, as many units aspire to do, and the unit selection for the Soldier of the Year, Spc. Brian P. Jenkins, reached the finals of the U.S. Army Reserve Command’s 40 best Soldiers in the Army Reserve, at Ft. Bragg, NC.

As a culmination of Jenkins' effort, Legra promised that everything possible would be done to ensure the Best Warrior competitor would be the one selected to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington. And sure enough, it was a promise that he delivered.

“3D TRANSPORTATION BRIGADE (EXPEDITIONARY), US ARMY RESERVE, it is our pleasure to inform you that your request to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Jul 09, 2016, at 10:15 AM is approved."

Receiving the official notification email from the Superintendent at Arlington National Cemetery was unbelievable news to receive, and for a while, still felt surreal.

Since the notification had been forwarded by the unit chaplain to Legra, it had to be real, right? Right.

"Like most of the rest of the unit, SPC Jenkins was in disbelief when I proposed the opportunity to him, and only the Chaplain was aware that this was already in the making," said Legra.

"You see, the request for laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns is a 6-12 month process, and your request may not even make it given the number of dignitaries and other organizations that have requested the same," continued Legra.

But for some good reason, the 3d TBX was selected, and on July 9, 2016, at 10:15 a.m., Col. David A. Roscoe, the brigade commander of the 3rd TBX, Lt. Col. Wendell M. Albert, the deputy commander of the 3rd TBX, Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph L. Legra, and Spc. Brian P. Jenkins reported for duty and presented a wreath on behalf of the unit at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers to honor all of our fallen service men and women.

• Date Taken: 07.26.2016
• Date Posted: 07.26.2016 17:41
• Story ID: 205154
• Location: FORT MYER, VA, US
• Hometown: FORT EUSTIS, VA, US