The United States Daughters of 1812 and other volunteers, including the Arkansas National Guard, braved below-freezing temperatures to pick up nearly 3,000 wreaths from the graves of unknown soldiers after the Christmas holidays at Little Rock National Cemetery.
The soldiers served in the Civil War, both Confederate and Union, the Spanish-American War and one from World War II.
"For the last five years, the Baseline-Meridian Chapter U.S.D. 1812 has covered the Unknowns, their names known only to God, with a wreath to ensure they are not forgotten at Christmas," a news release said.
This year's effort was coordinated by Little Rock Baseline-Meridian Chapter President Pat McLemore. The civilian volunteers from Mount Ida, Hot Springs Village, Little Rock, North Little Rock, Stuttgart, Pine Bluff and Benton traveled in the dark to ensure they were at the cemetery by 8 a.m.
"Through the years U.S.D. 1812 has been greatly assisted with this effort by the ANG, SCV and the Central Arkansas VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE), formally VAVS," the release said.
Eighteen soldiers from the Arkansas National Guard, 233rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, 87th Troop Command, 77th Combat Aviation Brigade, and National Guard Marksmanship Training Center volunteered under the direction of Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Veazey.
The soldiers were joined by 14 volunteers, including McLemore; Sons of American Revolution State President and National Vice President Charles McLemore; SAR DeSoto Trace Chapter Gene Rasure; U.S.D. 1812 State President Jerrie Townsend; U.S.D. 1812 State Treasurer Charline Manning; Veterans Chairman National U.S.D. 1812 Sheila Beatty-Krout; Junelle Mongo, Kathy Balkman and Tara O'Neal of U.S.D. 1812 Pine Bluff Chapter; Lucy Allen and Judy Robbins of U.S.D. 1812 Little Rock Chapter; Sons of Confederate Veterans General Robert C. Newton Camp Commander Randall J. Freeman; SCV Mike Mabry; and Oakland Fraternal Cemetery Sexton John Rains.
Email state President Townsend at [email protected] for more information.
The United States Daughters of 1812 and other volunteers, including the Arkansas National Guard, pick up nearly 3,000 wreaths from the graves of unknown soldiers after the Christmas holidays at Little Rock National Cemetery. The wreaths were carried to the curbs and then loaded into a truck by the National Guard for storage until next Christmas. - Photos courtesy of Pat McLemore and Randall Freeman. - Submitted photo
The United States Daughters of 1812 and other volunteers, including the Arkansas National Guard, pick up nearly 3,000 wreaths from the graves of unknown soldiers after the Christmas holidays at Little Rock National Cemetery. The wreaths were carried to the curbs and then loaded into a truck by the National Guard for storage until next Christmas. - Photos courtesy of Pat McLemore and Randall Freeman. - Submitted photo
The United States Daughters of 1812 and other volunteers, including the Arkansas National Guard, pick up nearly 3,000 wreaths from the graves of unknown soldiers after the Christmas holidays at Little Rock National Cemetery. The wreaths were carried to the curbs and then loaded into a truck by the National Guard for storage until next Christmas. - Photos courtesy of Pat McLemore and Randall Freeman. - Submitted photo