The Wreath Ceremony

I would be a good candidate for placing the wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier because my grandfather is a Vietnam war veteran and I would be the second generation to lay the wreath at the tomb. While my grandfather had been serving in Vietnam, he was shot in the chest. He had not slept for 2 days after in fear of never being able to wake up again. He was awarded the Purple Heart and is immensely proud of his service. My mother wrote the winning essay for the wreath laying her 8th grade year at Butler Junior High. I believe that my connections to not only what the tomb represents, but the actual tomb itself makes me a worthy candidate for laying the wreath at the unknown soldier.

This emotionally-powerful idea snags the attention of the reader and reiterates the theme that soldiers confront several obstacles. Once more, Alexander communicates, “In practice, November 11 is clouded with ambiguous symbolism, and has become our most awkward holiday.” This quote exposes the uncomfortable situations that a plethora of veterans find themselves in. The very holidays meant to honor these soldiers has suffocated them with the question, “Why come back alive when you could have died a hero?” By explaining the social pressures soldiers face, the author restated her claims of the adversity soldiers find themselves in. While both of these articles use ample pathos, they also use logos to support their claim.

On March 4, 1921, an unknown soldier from World War I was buried with the approval of Congress in the plaza of the Memorial Amphitheatre at Arlington National Cemetery. This serviceman was chosen randomly out of four other servicemen from four individual gravesites located in France. Not only was this soldier honored as a valiant trooper, but unknown soldiers from World War II and the Korean War were honored and remembered at this site too. The soldier located in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was buried with a white marble sarcophagus on top of the grave that has engravings of both Greek figures and words that say “an American soldier known but to God.” The importance of this mausoleum is that it honors those who were unidentified soldiers, and shows that our country will honor our armed forces and respect them, whether they are known or unknown.

A representative for the Pentagon, whom the veterans thought would offer strong support for the memorial, essentially said, “Why should we build a memorial to losers?” (Scruggs 30). Some politicians and others agreed, calling the veterans “crybabies who should receive less from the government” (Scruggs 31). Many Americans, however, especially veterans and those who had lost loved ones in the war, strongly supported the memorial. Tens of thousands of letters thanking the Fund and offering support accompanied widely varying donations to the memorial, such as one that said, “The whole town turned out for the funeral for he was the only boy who died there from this small town - but there it ended. There is no recognition of his death anywhere so far as the town he grew up in is concerned.” (Scruggs 26). Some that supported the Memorial were even a part of those who had condemned the war - “I opposed the war. I marched (and prayed) for peace. I counseled C.O.s. But I will never, never forget what so many gave of what they had for what they believed. And many of these, tragically, were the best we had.” (Scruggs 27). To those at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund receiving the letters, both supporting and condemning, they showed equal amounts of the pain that ran deeply through America, and they began to work harder at their attempt to heal this

Not many people would withstand having to go off to war knowing their life was on the line. There is much respect and gratitude inclined towards those who did and sacrificed everything they had. Our cordially veterans - the ones who fought and endured the bestial wars, the ones who knew they could fall at any moment, the ones who, despite the horror and fear

As a nation, we honor our soldiers as they risk their lives for our freedoms. A quote from John 15:13 perfectly represents what sacrifice the soldiers really make, “Greater love has no one then this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”(John 15:13). This shows that soldiers will die for their friends because they believe that it is their way to serve their nation. This quote represents what Arlington National Cemetery is about acres and acres of tombs to honor are soldiers.

As I recently traveled to Washington D.C. I visited an extremely empowering memorial - the Vietnam Veterans Wall. I walked along the endless panels and the thousands of names, I realized the impact that this war had on our country and that these names are actual people. They are brothers, fathers, sons, uncles, friends. These individuals left their family, their wives, their children. Some gave their lives, and some gave their sanity, but they all suffered for something much bigger. Many Americans fought in the Vietnam War - some against their will, many as young as 18 years of age. They risked their lives fighting for us, for our country and for a difference. Some soldiers returned home, and sadly, some did not. Many of whom arrived in April,

Take into consideration that the Constitution states that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness can not be taken away without due

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery is on a hill that looks over Washington,D.C. On March 4, 1921, Congress approved the burial of an unknown American soldier from World War I in the plaza of the new Memorial Amphitheater. The white marble tomb has a flat-faced form and is relieved at the corners and along the sides by neo-classic0 columns, set into the surface. Sculpted into the east panel which faces Washington, D.C., are three Greek figures representing Peace, Victory, and Valor. The six wreaths, three sculpted on each side, represent the six major campaigns of World War I. Written on the back of the Tomb are the words: “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.”

An inscription was then added to the tomb that said, “Honoring and Keeping Faith with America 's Missing Servicemen.”

The tomb of the unknown soldier is located in Arlington National Cemetery overlooking Washington D.C. Sculpted in the east panel which faces Washington D.C., are three Greek figures representing Peace, Victory, and Valor. There is also three wreaths sculpted on each side, representing the six major campaigns for WWⅠ. Lastly, inscripted into the back of the tomb is: Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known to only but God.

The United States of America is a country priding itself on providing equal opportunity for the right of life, liberty, and property. These unalienable rights, according to the Founding Fathers, were not to be taken away or denied by the American government. Also known as a natural right, the right to life can be classified as a citizen’s right to be protected by the government from abuse or death. Property classifies the right that a citizen has for owning materialistic items and land for which can be considered private. Finally, the right of liberty presented in the Constitution for a citizen refers to many different aspects ranging from freedom of speech and expression, right to bear arms, freedom of religion, freedom against search and

The Tomb of the Unknown Solider is located Arlington National Cemetery which stands atop of a hill overlooking Washington, DC. The Tomb symbolizes all those who were lost or rendered unidentifiable by the action of war. It is there to represent all the missing and unknown service member who made the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives, but also their identities to protect our country’s freedoms. On March 4, 1921 Congress approved for the burial of an unidentified American solider from World War I to be placed in the Plaza of the newly built Memorial Amphitheater. Inscribed on the back of the Tomb are “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.” (Arlington National Cemetery) The Tomb sarcophagus was place above the grave of the Unknown Solider

The veterans will offer a wreath for presentation at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Saturday morning before visiting the Vietnam War, Lincoln and Korean War memorials. Saturday night will finish with a trips to the Jefferson, Pentagon and Air Force memorials.

After arriving at the Arlington National Cemetery the leaders of 99 different nations gathered for the state funeral of President John F. Kennedy. President Kennedy was laid to rest accompanied with the full military honors that were stationed on a slope below the base of the Arlington House. The grave of the fallen president was marked by an eternal flame that was lit by non other than the president’s wife, Mrs. Kennedy. This eternal flame is a representation of the eternal mourning of America due to the loss of such a strong and caring man that led their nation through good and difficult times.