Membership Notes

North Carolina State Council:
A Wreath Of Gratitude

BY JUAN ERIC CANTU

For many Vietnam veterans, opportunities to honor our brothers and sisters are not always easy to come by. VVA North Carolina State Council Vice President Rossie Nance had watched national honors on TV and read stories about such honors many times in his local newspaper. He longed to give something of himself as well; perhaps placing a wreath of gratitude at Arlington National Cemetery.

That dream became a quest. Through a chance meeting with a stranger at a local restaurant, Nance learned about a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns. He asked questions and was told to look at the website, www.arlingtoncemetery.mil The dream began to take shape.

He discussed the idea with North Carolina State Council President Joe Kristek, who thought it was something North Carolina Vietnam veterans could relate to and that chapters could incorporate into their educational programs throughout the state.

A quick correspondence between the state council and the Department of the Army National Cemeteries program resulted in approval of the placement of a wreath in Arlington on September 25 at 10:15 a.m. The ceremony would be memorial in purpose and patriotic in nature. Four individuals were selected to form the official party: Joe Kristek, Rossie Nance, NCSC Board Member Ronnie Williams, and NCSC Public Affairs Chair Juan Eric Cantu.

“It was truly an honor to make this happen on behalf of all North Carolina Vietnam veterans and their families,” Kristek said. “It is our hope that VVA chapters in North Carolina, as well as other state councils across the country, take the opportunity and make the commitment to follow in our footsteps.”

Any organization or group can participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington, but the coordination is a step-by-step process. First, visit the Arlington Cemetery website. Next, write a letter that includes your preferred dates. The mailing address is on the website. One of the requirements is that the presenting party dress professionally.

Costs include the purchase of the wreath (approximately $200). There’s also the cost of food and lodging. For the North Carolina State Council delegation lodging was an overnight stay. Finally, there’s the cost of transportation.

There is a wealth of history and information available online about Arlington National Cemetery that will further enrich participation in a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Consider the opportunity. For the North Carolina State Council this event fulfilled a childhood dream.

Those who wish to speak directly to the NCSC about wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington Cemetery should contact Eric Cantu at cantuveteran@yahoo.com or Rossie Nance at r_nance@bellsouth.net or Joe Kristek at navy1dad@aol.com