Saturday January 28th Marks 2012 Wreath Pick Up Day

As Important As The Ceremony Was In December – Will Be Showing Honor & Appreciation In January

There’s a lonesome stone where a hero lays,

But the grass ain’t mowed because everybody’s done their way,

Another man kept his promise to protect his home,

It is time to show our sons where to mow the lawn.

~ Lyrics from “Veterans Day” by The Don Campbell Band

Every year at this time as we put out a call for volunteers to help pick up the wreaths placed in December, I think of the those lyrics from the song “Veterans Day” by Don Campbell. January might not be the month for lawn mowing but the sentiment is still the same. Our mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach is a daily testament to our appreciation for the service and sacrifice of our veterans.

Wreath clean up (rain, snow or shine) at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) will be on Saturday, January 28, 2012. Cemetery gates will open at 8:00 am. Brief opening remarks will be held at 8:30 am at the McClellan Gate Arch near Section 12 on the right of Eisenhower Drive. ANC officials will not allow volunteers to park within the Cemetery with the exception of #1 noted below. We strongly encourage volunteers to use Metro. Please remember that we will be picking up ONLY the WAA wreaths with the red bows. All other wreaths, decorations, stands, etc. are to remain in place.
 
Listed below are important details for the wreath clean up:
 
1. Parking within the cemetery will be restricted to individuals with ANC family passes. Vehicles with valid handicapped permits will be allowed to park in the Administrative lot on King Drive to the left off of Eisenhower Drive and next to Section 54.
2. The ANC Visitor Paid Parking Garage will open at 7:00 am and will be free until 1:00 pm for volunteers. Buses should also use this facility.
3. Additional parking will be available at the same locations used for wreath laying. These locations are the Fort Myer parking lots next to the cemetery (except those areas blocked off with orange cones; the Navy Annex lots (off S. Joyce St.) near the Air Force Memorial and the old gas station (do not park in slots marked “Reserved 24/7”); at the Pentagon North lot, and at the Hayes, Fern, and Eads Streets parking lots off of Army/Navy Drive.
4. Pedestrians volunteers can access ANC gates located at:
- the Ord-Weitzel Gate (north) near the Iwo Jima Memorial;
- the Main Gate (east) on Memorial Drive with entry at the Visitors Center and the Women’s Memorial;
- the Service and Maintenance Gate and the Henderson Hall Gate (south) off Columbia Pike between the Air Force and Pentagon Memorials, across from the now-closed Navy Exchange gas station; and,  the Fort Myer Gate (west) near the Old Post Office Chapel.
5. Arlington Cemetery is hallowed ground. Please be respectful at all times.
6. No food or drink (except water) is allowed within the Cemetery grounds.
7. Restrooms are available at the Information Center, Women’s Memorial, and at the Memorial Amphitheater.
Listed below are “helpful” hints:
1. Dress for the weather. Wear comfortable “all-weather” shoes and gloves.
2. Volunteers may bring leaf rakes or poles to load up on multiple wreaths for easier transfer. Previously, some volunteers used a rope tied to a 14 inch board or rod for ease in loading and carrying wreaths.

Here is a note from Wayne Hanson – our Location Leader at Arlington inviting you to honor our fallen in a different way, by joining us in the annual wreath clean-up.

“Thanks for the interest in helping with the wreath clean-up at Arlington this year. We won’t have all the details for the clean-up until we meet again with the ANC officials. The clean-up date will be Saturday, January 28, 2012. As of right now, the Cemetery officials say they will open the gates to the volunteers at 0800, but will continue to restrict the parking within the Cemetery (we are continuing to work on that issue).
 
We will be meeting and having a short briefing at 0830 at the McClellan Gate Arch near Section 12 before the clean-up begins. Once additional details are worked out and approved by ANC officials we will be posting that information on the WAA web page at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org and the Arlington facebook page at www.facebook.com/ArlingtonWreaths so be sure to keep checking those sites for any additional information later next week.

One last important reminder – we are to pick up ONLY the plain WAA wreaths with the red bow.  All other wreaths, decorations, stands, etc. are to be left in place.
 
Again, thanks for the interest in helping with the wreath clean-up.”
Wayne Hanson
Arlington Wreath Project Coordinator

Even if you can’t make it to Arlington – we help us at one of our 700+ participating locations.

Click on Locations and check with a Location Leader near you to see what they are planning in their local community.