Wreaths Across America took place this morning, at Arlington National Cemetery just outside DC, and at locations across the US, and overseas.

Wreaths Across America

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.

Wreaths Across America

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?

Wreaths Across America

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.

Wreaths Across America

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?

This coming Saturday morning, December 12th, several thousand people won’t be home in the warm, cuddled up in their beds all comfy and toasty.

Instead, they’ll have made their way early that morning to Arlington National Cemetery, as well as other locations spread out across the United States, Iraq, and other foreign locations.

Silent Rest - Arlington 2008

This will see the final phase of the annual Wreaths Across America project to completion for the 18th year.

The trucks, carrying over 150,000 donated wreaths, are in transit as I write this entry, escorted by the Patriot Guard Riders, and many others – organizations and individuals.

Patriot Guard Riders - Arlington 2008

On December 12th, those thousands of volunteers will get out of their warm beds, leave their warm homes, and descend upon the resting places of fallen heroes, both old and new, to pay their respects and honor those whose stood, and fell, defending us.

Patriot Guard Riders - Arlington 2008

It isn’t a celebration of war.

It isn’t a judgment on the right or wrongs of the various conflicts many of those heroes fell during.

It’s simply a way to honor those heroes for serving.

A way to remember them.

A way to say “Thank you”.

On behalf of a grateful nation.

Fallen Heroes - Arlington 2008

We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. ~ Winston Churchill

There’s nothing quite like a Powwow to help bring you back on track inside your own head – Especially when you go to two of them in the space of three days, both social ones.

The second one, George Mason University’s Veteran’s Day powwow, is going to be one of the “memorable” ones.

After two years of effort and work, and with the help of 10+ pounds of steel, I finally got to dance standing up (Well, dancing if you use a rather loose interpretation of “dancing”).

It was kind of funny to see the expressions on people’s faces, who are used to seeing me being 4′ tall (all people in wheelchairs are 4′ tall) as they got to see that I’m still 6′2″ tall when vertical

I’m kind of paying the price for being slightly … umm … stubborn, I may have pushed the envelope just a tad.  But it was certainly worth it – especially when I realized I was the tallest person in the circle all but one time (a drummer from Black Bear is only slightly taller than I am ).

But it was more than worth it.

Now I have to start re-interpreting the dances again though.  It was stubbornness at the idea that wheels meant I couldn’t dance in the arena that led me to try to come up with analogs in the chair.

If I keep working on building up stamina and strength enough to do more than one circuit of the arena before needing to sit again using the legs (that 10+ pounds of steel), that same stubbornness will help me rethink the dances again – it’s hard to sway and bounce using your knees and ankles when they’re locked into a solid straight line

But I have a feeling the same community spirit that helped me develop analogs in the chair will come forwards again, and people will come up with suggestions and helpful ideas on how to do it.

And on the subject of which, special gratitude goes to Rie, who had no idea what I planned until she saw me get up to tower over her, and responded to my plaintive “I need a crash course in dancing standing up so I don’t look like an idiot” request so readily

Also kudos to tainee for not letting me postpone the whole idea for another year as we got ready that morning

Of course, now I have a perfect excuse to get started on making new regalia – all my old dresses were designed to be used in my chair, and look daft if worn when vertical

Hopefully I can download the pictures from this weekend to my computer soon, and we can get them cleaned up and online – only, as usual, don’t expect any of them to feature me … I have a reputation to live down to, y’know!

Comments

• February 27, 2009, RiK (1 comments) writes: That's AWESOME stuff. It wasn't that long back you were proudly telling me you'd managed 30 steps.
• November 24, 2009, Moonwolf (11 comments) writes: Back then it was 10 ... With the legs I'm up to a mile and a half now - although I've only pushed it to that once, and it took me a couple of weeks to recover :P

With gratitude to all the stick jockeys who fly into all kinds of hell to keep the faith – everyone goes come.

With special thanks to one specific crew that made this pickup in ‘91.

A print version of this is now available at my deviantArt store. Profits from sales of this print through that store will be donated to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a well respected charity in the US that provides scholarships and help to the families of fallen Special Forces troops from the US< as well as immediate financial help to wounded Special Forces troops returning from combat.

I know it’s not a “popular” topic, one a lot of people shy away from, but please, if you have a mind to, consider supporting the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, either through buying one of the prints, or by donating directly.

And yes, this is something personal for me.

It is said that the measure of a man is not so much by his deeds in life, but by how he is seen after he dies.

If that is true, Petty Officer Harris must have been a man I should regret never having met.

The Washington Post ran a story, back on September 3rd 2008, in which PO Harris’ mother described him as a “Renaissance Man”.  I never knew him, but if the ~400 people in attendance at his funeral today at Arlington National Cemetery are anything to go by, he was that and more.

But for me, he was a brother in arms, fallen defending me.  So it was, as always, a privilege and honour to be a part of everything at the end, to be invited by the family as part of the Patriot Guard Riders to show respect, honour, and gratitude.

I almost missed it, the schedule seemed to be brought forwards, my guess would be as a result of the huge number of people attending.  Up to a full company of SEALs were there in formation, and I swear, I’ve rarely seen that much brass in one place outside of the Pentagon before – including, I do believe, a 3-star Admiral.

I remember looking back towards the road while we were on the Line during the ceremony, and saw one lone woman standing there, all the way outside everything.  I don’t think she was “part” of the ceremony – she disappeared before the end – but she stood there for a good long time.

It was heart warming to think that another “passing stranger” saw the ceremony to honour a fallen hero, and stopped to take a moment out of their day to pay their respects to someone they didn’t know.

On the way out, I came up on a gentleman from Australia who was visiting the area.  He has family in Boston, and wanted to take advantage of being nearby to visit Arlington National Cemetery.  We chatted for a time as we both walked towards the exit, and I explained as best I could the purpose of PGR – he’d thought at first while the rest of the guys went roaring past him on their way out just before I encountered him if he’d walked into a Harley rally

Today was also the first time Dave “Silverback” got to see me in all my full 6′2″ tall glory, using my braces

I think I’ve finally “cracked” the problem of the sections at Arlington National Cemetery not being wheelchair-accessible, if I can take my braces.  If I know which section a ceremony is due to take place, I can leave the Admin Building staging area five minutes before everyone else, and wait down by the section.  once the bikes are there, I can park my Tank behind them, and shift to using the braces to walk to the Line.

I have to admit, it feels great to be able to truly stand for those we’re there to honour.

Of course, this does kind of depend on ANC making the section known in time for me to get there.  They’re not very forthcoming many times with the section.  To be honest, I don’t think they’ve ever considered the possibility someone in a wheelchair might want to go there, might want to go on the grass, and might need to get creative to be able to be part of everything independently.

The Admin Building is accessible, as are the “tourist” accessible sections, but wheelchair access isn’t a factor – as shown by one attendee today, who was in a wheelchair and needed a lot of assistance to get over the kerbs, and the grass.

But I can adapt and overcome obstacles, natural or man-made.  I will stand for those we are there to honour, if I have to crawl there to do it.

One thing that never leaves me, no matter how many PGR missions I do, is a sense of bewilderment at the end.  How do you handle a soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine coming up to you and thanking you for being there?  it should be us thanking them for allowing us to show our respects, thanking them for their service on our behalf.

I know that what we do is said by many to be such thanks, but still, it’s strange to be thanked just for doing “the right thing”.

Unfortunately, due to almost missing it, I wasn’t able to get any pictures of the PGR contingent at the Admin Building.

As always, my condolences and gratitude go to the family of this fallen hero, and my thanks for allowing us to be present to show our respect.

Comments

• February 22, 2009, Seal Wife (2 comments) writes: Thank you for being at Josh's ceremony. My husband, an active duty SEAL, helped Josh
• February 22, 2009, Seal Wife (2 comments) writes: Thank you for being at Josh's ceremony. My husband, an active duty SEAL, helped Josh train before he went to boot camp and was proud to stand with Josh's family at his BUD/S graduation. Josh was truly a patriot, as are all of his family members. Again, thank you for honoring Josh so humbly.

It’s been a while since I was able to go on a PGR Mission, but thankfully circumstances have conspired to make them possible again.

Today, with the family’s permission, we were able to escort them to Arlington National Cemetery to lay to rest Specialist Michael Gonzalez.

Specialist Gonzalez hailed from Spotswood, New Jersey, and was assigned to the 340th Military Police Company in Baghdad. On August 28th 2008, he was killed by an improvised explosive device.

The first parts of the mission were carried out by PGR members in New Jersey itself. Four of them also escorted Specialist Gonzalez, his family and friends, to ANC today, driving all the way down.

PGR was able to make a good turnout for this hero, although the dozen or so riders who attended were heavily outnumbered by his friends, family, and fellow soldiers.

As is SOP for PGR, I didn’t take pictures of the Interment, or of the hearse or non-PGR attendees, but I did snap a few as we staged outside the ANC Admin Building.

It was a humbling privilege to ride alongside those NJ riders who had traveled all that way to pay their respects in honouring Specialist Gonzalez.

My condolences go out to those who knew him, and my thanks for being allowed to show respect to this fallen warrior.

Comments

• November 28, 2008, Ida Gonzalez (1 comments) writes: Today Michael is gone 3 months, I wanted to share a Tribute I made for Michael. www.tagged.com/mommagonzo

I’m not sure which is the more enraging right now.

That a hotel seems to have a company policy to refuse accommodation for any service member in the UK.

Or that the (parent?) company has the gall to call itself “American Amusements” with such a policy in place.

What

The

Fuck?

Such a policy sure as hell isn’t “American” (unless you count certain unmentionable crazies who qualify as “American” solely on the fact it’s their citizenship, not their philosophy).

From “American Amusement”’s website:

American Amusements Ltd is one of the UK’s fastest growing and most successful Leisure Company’s.

Ignoring the fact that they can’t spell “Companies” correctly, I sincerely hope that, as of today, they become the UK’s fastest shrinking and failing company.

Combining a winning blend of family entertainment facilities and exciting late-bar activities, American Amusement Centres seek to offer a variety of unrivalled indoor entertainment for all.

Except, it seems, service personnel.

The hotel duty manager didn’t even have the courage to face the soldier themselves – they were “unavailable”.

Use their web site to find their business locations – and boycott them.

These ingrates need to pay a price for their policy. It’s not nearly the price the people whose patronage they deem “unworthy” risk paying, and I’m sure they’ll whine about how unfair it is – but it’s about time people who dishonour service personnel this egregiously started having some of the benefits they enjoy withdrawn.

The only way companies like this will ever understand the error of their ways is by hitting them in the only place that truly matters – their bottom lines.

You have to wonder if the UK will ever evolve, or will Rudyard Kipling be quoted for ever:

I went into a public-’ouse to get a pint o’ beer,
The publican ‘e up an’ sez, “We serve no red-coats here.”
The girls be’ind the bar they laughed an’ giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:
O it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, go away”;
But it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but ‘adn’t none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-’alls,
But when it comes to fightin’, Lord! they’ll shove me in the stalls!
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, wait outside”;
But it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide,
The troopship’s on the tide, my boys, the troopship’s on the tide,
O it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide.

Yes, makin’ mock o’ uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an’ they’re starvation cheap;
An’ hustlin’ drunken soldiers when they’re goin’ large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin’ in full kit.
Then it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, ‘ow’s yer soul?”
But it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll.

We aren’t no thin red ‘eroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don’t grow into plaster saints;
While it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, fall be’ind”,
But it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind,
There’s trouble in the wind, my boys, there’s trouble in the wind,
O it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind.

You talk o’ better food for us, an’ schools, an’ fires, an’ all:
We’ll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don’t mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow’s Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace.
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But it’s “Saviour of ‘is country” when the guns begin to shoot;
An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;
An’ Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool — you bet that Tommy sees!

Rudyard Kipling’s poem: Tommy

Update: The BBC has a followup article.

According to a statement made by American Amusements:

A spokesman said: “The hotel management has always had an open door policy to all its visitors and guests, including members of the military and armed forces, and will continue to do so.”

He added: “On this particular occasion there was a mistake made by a duty receptionist and the hotel management sincerely apologises for that mistake.”

So we’re supposed to believe that a receptionist decided on her own to exclude military personnel, and that she stated on her own initiative that it was company policy?

So why was the duty manager “unavailable”?  I’m sure he or she could have set things straight – were the receptionist truly in error as they claim.

Was the receptionists “mistake” really to admit to a company policy excluding service personnel, rather than come up with a more palatable lame excuse like “we’re full”?

Of course, we’re talking about the UK here, and the statement will be accepted at face value, no matter how illogical it seems, by The Powers That Be – because they refuse to accept there is a problem over there to begin with!

Derek Twigg, a Defence Minister (read, politician) says:

“I am delighted that the armed forces generally enjoy immense respect and gratitude on the part of the nation and that contrary sentiments are rare, though evidently they exist.”

I guess he’s been sleeping when service personnel were advised not to wear their uniforms in public, or when wounded veterans were told to get out of a swimming pool they were undergoing rehab in because they were scaring the children, and hadn’t paid to use the pool.

Maybe he didn’t hear about the furore local residents made over the family accomodation house for Headley Court, or how spraining your thumb from RSI as a civilian employee entitles you to twice as much compensation as a Marine who loses both legs and an arm?

Let this one slide with illogical excuses from American Entertainment, and it’ll simply encourage more of the ingrates infesting the UK to do the same.

I was answering an email from the mother of the singer/songwriter for Hailing Star, when it occurred to me that people in the UK might not know what PGR does.

So it was off to YouTube to find some videos.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a Private or a General – if the family asks, as many of us as are able will turn up to show respect and our thanks.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

You can find more here.

I would note right now that it’s not about the right or wrong of conflicts – past, present, or future. It’s solely about respect for the sheepdogs who risk their lives every day on our behalf. The PGR membership is made up of people from every walk of life, religion, or political affiliation, whether on bikes or cars (or, in my case, a wheelchair).

It’s about gratitude, and respect.

“On behalf of a grateful nation” must seem so formualic, so ritualized, it may feel to have no meaning.

But if the family members can look across to see us, a bunch of total strangers who have come to pay our respects and help bring a fallen hero home, I hope they can see that there are people who are grateful.

It doesn’t make things “better” for them, given their loss – but if it gives them some comfort to know their loss wasn’t forgotten, wasn’t ignored, then that’s truly “Mission Accomplished”.

[Edit: August 24th @ 0923] The site seems to be back up, my guess is DNS decided to bork for a while.

He can email me at moonwolf@moonwolfs-lair.com

Almost everything coming out of the UK about veterans of late has been bad – the state of equipment for the British armed forces, the attitudes of the civilians.

Especially the attitudes of the civilians.

So it hit me right in the gut to read on the BBC’s news site about Hailing Star.

They’re a teenage metal band in Devon, from the same town as a hero who fell in 2007, Rifleman Daniel Coffey, 2nd Btn The Rifles.

This group of teenagers (their lead singer is only 15) have written a song, “Lost Heroes” in memory of Rifleman Coffey, and other heroes who have fallen.

TEENAGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The last people, according to media hype, you’d imagine to honour anyone, let alone a soldier.

I can’t even begin to express in words the pride I feel reading about these kids … no, not kids, their actions are far too honourable to call them “kids”.

In a country that’s falling apart, where apathy and selfish self-centered assholes run around spitting (literally and figuratively) on those who risk their lives to give those ingrates the freedoms they’re in the process of squandering, to hear about this reminds me why we serve.

The ingrates get the benefits of that service because they happen to live there. But it’s people like these the members of Hailing Star that make it worthwhile.

A group of teenagers are keeping the faith, an act of honour and respect that a large number of their seniors are incapable of comprehending or performing.

The proceeds from Hailing Star’s song, “Lost Heroes”, will go to Operation Braveheart, a charity set up by Rifleman Coffey’s grandfather, David Godfrey.

Even if the song ends up being a total pile of crap, it won’t matter – people should buy it regardless. The quality won’t matter – Hailing Star stepped up to a plate very few can be bothered to step up to, and they deserve as much support as possible.

It isn’t just that the proceeds go to Operation Braveheart, it’s showing this group of teenagers that honour and integrity are worthwhile pursuits, and thanking them for their gratitude to our fallen heroes.

The loss of Rifleman Coffey was mourned by Patriot Guard Riders when the Ministry of defense announced it – a bunch of strangers in the US remembered someone when British civilians would shrug and likely insult the memory of this hero. Now a teenage metal band is honouring him too.

There’s hope for that decadent society yet. Maybe it’s worth fighting for after all.

Our heroes will never be lost with people like these around – fallen, yes … but never lost.