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Bit’s Greatest Hits: Christmas At Arlington

I wanted to pass along a couple of pictures that were passed along to me by readers last year. I never got the chance to use them last season because I didn’t see them until well after new year’s. But now seems as good a time as any to post them.

in case you don’t recognize it, I will tell you up front that these are pictures from Arlington National Cemetery. They do this, every year. Every headstone in the place, gets a wreath. Every person buried at Arlington, is remembered with honor, and perhaps there is no time they are honored more than during the holiday season.

The Arlington Wreath project was started on the order of fifteen years ago by the president of the Worcester wreath company in Maine, who apparently decided to send holiday wreaths to Arlington is a way to honor the country’s fallen soldiers . Each and every year without fail since then 5000 or so evergreen wreaths are made up in the state of Maine, and then decorated , then loaded on a truck bound for Arlington.

The last I heard, there was supposed to be a wreath laying ceremony this morning at Arlington.

Longtime readers of this blog will recall that my wife is something of a fan of one Trace Adkins. Truth to tell, I like him as well… and particularly admire him for recording this one, which this story reminds me of. I know… copyright laws, and all… I hope Trace doesn’t mind, because I think this says it so well, what I feel looking at these pics.


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I never thought that this is where I’d settle down,
I thought I’d die an old man back in my hometown,
They gave me this plot of land, me and some other men, for a job well done,
There’s a big white house sits on a hill just up the road,
The man inside he cried the day they brought me home,
They folded up a flag and told my mom and dad, we’re proud of your son
And I’m proud to be on this peaceful piece of property,
I’m on sacred ground and I’m in the best of company,
I’m thankful for those thankful for the things I’ve done,
I can rest in peace, I’m one of the chosen ones, I made it to Arlington
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I remember daddy brought me here when i was eight,
We searched all day to find out where my granddad lay,
And when we finally found that cross,
He said, “son this is what it cost to keep us free”
Now here I am, a thousand stones away from him,
He recognized me on the first day i came in,
And it gave me a chill when he clicked his heels, and saluted me.

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And everytime I hear twenty-one guns,
I know they brought another hero home to us

 

We’re thankful for those thankful for the things we’ve done,
We can rest in peace, ’cause we are the chosen ones,
We made it to Arlington..

yea dust to dust,
Don’t cry for us…

We made it to Arlington.

Oh… and before I forget…. Remember to thank the LIVING soldiers as well. Here’s one way [1]. There are other ways, as well.Look, let’s make this easy….you’re going to see a lot of people in uniform traveling for the Christmas season. When you see one, take the time to say “Thanks for wearing that Uniform, and doing our country proud”. The smile you get in return will doubtless make your day.