Wreaths Across America, Arlington National Cemetery 2009
by Moonwolf on Dec.12, 2009, under Patriot Guard Riders, Veterans
Wreaths Across America took place this morning, at Arlington National Cemetery just outside DC, and at locations across the US, and overseas.
This was the 18th year the Worchester Wreath Company has provided the wreaths, brought in by 18-wheelers all the way down from Maine, provided by themselves and through donations from many many others.
It’s hard to describe the event – it seems so simple, it went flawlessly, but there’s so much behind everything that words aren’t really adequate.
How do you explain the way your breath catches as you look back down Memorial Drive and Memorial Bridge and see nothing but the lights of a convoy of cars as far as you can see?
How do you describe the lump in your throat when you watch people streaming along both sides of Eisenhower Drive to reach McClellan Gate for two hours.
How can you define the moment when, surrounded by people – veterans, serving personnel, civilians, old, young, adult, and infant – it clicks in your head that people care?
What words can encompass seeing a sea of green wreaths, each with its carefully draped red bow, in front of the row upon rows of neat markers that define the final resting place of so many fallen heroes from throughout history?
Maybe the people took a moment in silent thanks to the person whose marker they were standing, or kneeling, in front of.
Maybe they knew the person behind the name on the marker, maybe they’re complete strangers.
How didn’t matter, who didn’t matter, everyone there shared the why of it all – to offer thanks and respects to those who served.
I was able to visit the markers of some of those I’ve been honored and privileged to be a part of bringing home, such as PO1 Joshua Harris USN.
The ground in the sections most of the wreaths went to was too soft for wheels, too slick for legs.
Even in Section 60, the Tank got bogged down – but hands were there to help extricate it.
In the end, I placed my own wreath on the headstone for a Korean War veteran. He didn’t die in that war, but many years later, but it didn’t matter – He served, my brother in arms.
That was all that mattered.
Such a simple thing, you’d think, this whole event.
So why do I want to cry, in sadness and joy all at the same time?
