Wreath Laying Ceremony at Arlington
Article submitted by Tim Pelton, Deputy Commander, Connecticut Statewide Honor Guard
The placement of a memorial wreath for fallen fire fighters at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery was first conceived by members of the Connecticut Statewide Honor Guard in 2007. Inquires were made regarding the protocol required and selection of a date and time for the wreath placement. When it was confirmed that there was some flexibility in date selection, the decision was made to schedule the wreath placement as part of the National Fallen Fighters Memorial Weekend.
As the saying goes: ‘telephone, telegraph, tell a fireman’. Word began to spread on our own nationwide internal firefighter network regarding the upcoming wreath placement and inquires started to come in regarding who, what, when and where. The answer is a simple one. Anyone in the fire service is invited to attend the wreath placement as we pay our respects to all our fallen brothers and sister at one of the most solemn and respectful locations in the country “where valor proudly sleeps”.
With some strategic planning and a little polite nudging, fire service personnel in Class A uniforms assemble in the first couple of rows reserved for spectators at the Tomb as the time for the wreath placement approaches. At the precise moment determined by the Tomb Guard Commander, the walk of the Tomb Guard is suspended, a four person detail then proceeds out on to the plaza of the Tomb itself and the wreath is placed. A salute is rendered, Taps played, and the detailed secured.
In 2008 the presentation was enhanced to include two family survivors of a firefighter’s LODD as part of the four person detail presenting the wreath. The family members were selected by the NFFF staff. This enhancement was enormously successful and will be continued for years to come.
As part of our ongoing rapport with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, we pay our respects to The Old Guard by forming up all uniformed personnel and saluting both the on-coming and off-going Tomb Guards following the wreath presentation. If time allows, this mutual respect for one another has translated into tours of the Tomb Guard Barracks beneath the Tomb and one-on-one discussions with Tomb Guard Commander.
In 2009 the wreath presentation will take place on Thursday October 1st at 1215 hours. All fire service personnel are invited. It is recommended that we all assemble in the cemetery’s visitor parking lot in the morning and proceed walking to the Tomb at 1000 hours. It takes a while to walk to the Tomb and orientation and line up instructions will be provided at the east side of the Tomb at 1100 hours. Hot tip: hit the head and take on some water at the Visitors Center prior to heading up to the Tomb.
We can think of no better way to commence the National Fallen fighters Weekend then to present a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery in memory to all our fall brothers and sisters.
The creed of the Tomb Guards is ‘Soldiers never die until they are forgotten, Tomb Guards never forget.” Those passionate words work well for fire service Honor Guards as well.
