- The National Wreaths Across America Day event at Arlington National Cemetery attracted thousands on Saturday.
Medal of Honor Recipient Col. Roger Donlon Addresses Opening Ceremony Of Wreaths Across America Dec 16, 2017 (Julia Nista/The Daily Caller)
Veterans and visitors alike attended, and the event honored Col. Roger Donlon, the first Medal of Honor Recipient on the Vietnam War. Col. Donlon spoke to a large crowd at the opening of the event and focused on his wife Norma, saying even though he returned home, Norma made his heart “a prisoner of war.”
Large trucks brought thousands of live wreaths to place on the tombstones and monuments located in Arlington Cemetery. Volunteers lined up to obtain the wreaths and placed them accordingly.
Trucks Bring In Wreaths For Wreaths Across America (Julia Nista/The Daily Caller)
Wreaths Across America Crowd Opening Ceremony (Julia Nista/The Daily Caller)
There were special wreath-placing ceremonies at main locations of the cemetery, including the JFK Memorial and Columbarium. At noon, Col. Donlon and his grandchildren presented a wreath after the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
First Medal of Honor recipient in Vietnam Col. Roger Donlon and family at Wreaths Across America Dec 16, 2017 Julia Nista/The Daily Caller)
A few veterans told The Daily Caller about their experience at the event. Jim Parker served in the Army’s 824th Heavy Boat Company during peacetime and was discharged in 1965.
“I spend my Christmases doing three things,” Parker told TheDC. “First, I go to Arlington for the wreaths. This is my second year.”
“Second, I go to a Baptist Church in North Carolina and take part in a men’s Bible class,” continued Parker. “Third, I don’t take anything for granted. I have two sons, two daughters and a grandchild. That’s what I do for Christmas.”
American Flag at Wreaths Across America (Julia Nista/The Daily Caller)
Two Marine veterans, Duke Hancock and Chris Smith, served in Beirut in the early eighties. Smith served from 1982-83 as an infantry rifleman and Hancock served from 1983-84 as a helicopter crew chief. This was the first year of attendance for both Smith and Hancock. Smith said he has never seen this many people in the cemetery before, including a Memorial Day event that he attended.
Hancock boldly wore a kilt and a biker jacket in the cold outdoors of Arlington Cemetery, displaying his service in Beirut.
Beirut Veteran Wreaths Across America (Julia Nista/The Daily Caller)
“I always wear kilts,” Hancock told TheDC. “I own a kilt company in New Jersey, and I wear a kilt everyday.”
The Wreaths Across America Day Event set Arlington National Cemetery in the spirit of Christmas, and the wreaths will stay in place until late January.