Applicants Essays

Arlington National Cemetery, to me, is a very important place. The cemetery means different things to different people. For soldiers who die fighting for our country, they can be buried here. At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, it is also a place to honor soldiers who went to war and never came back. During the Vietnam War, thousands of soldiers died and were never found. About ten years ago, some people thought that there were some soldiers still alive and in prison. This is a place to remember them as well as other soldiers from other wars.

I got a lot of inspiration to write this paper from the song by Jamey Johnson called, “Lead Me Home”. A lot of my perspective came from this song. The video shows soldiers being buried at Arlington and families crying. Also, two soldiers came to my school and one thing they mentioned was how they made good friends at war and their friends died with great honor. This place represents the thousands of men and women who died or never made it home and it helps the families understand that life is not over but that he/she is somewhere else.

When I was younger, I thought Arlington National Cemetery was cool. As I grow up I have learned what Arlington really means and it is very sad. Can you believe how many people are now sad (families and visitors) that love to go there but it will never be a fun place because it will always be sad for them. Arlington National Cemetery was built in remembrance of our soldiers. I’m glad that families have a place to go to remember their loved one in a place that helps them feel that everything is OK. And really it is. When I go to the cemetery one thing I see are the horse drawn carriages and the caskets with the American flags on them. It is so sad and I feel like I am going to cry. Some people say it is happy that they died for us but I think it is pure sadness.

The reason I would like to be chosen to lay the wreath is because for the past four years I have watched people lay the wreath and I always wanted to be them. Not so I am in the newspapers or on websites but because I want to be able to go home and say I got to go to Washington, DC and lay a wreath in a place of high honor. A couple of years ago I got to tour where the guards sleep and learned that the tomb is always guarded. It is guarded even during a hurricane! Watching the routine and changing of the guards is very interesting and shows the respect and honor we should always show our soldiers. I would like to lay the wreath so that I can show my respect and do it in honor of all of the kids whose moms and dads didn’t make it home.

I hope you understand why I think I should be chosen to lay the wreath at Arlington National Cemetery. Also, I hope you understand what this and Arlington National Cemetery means to me. Thank you for your time.

    - Erin Rigsbee, Essay Winner

I feel Arlington Cemetery is important to our country because the people who are in the military spend time away their families just to help our country. My Great grandfather fought in World War I and another great grandfather served in World War II. My grandfather also served in Vietnam so many of their friends are probably buried there.

Another reason Arlington Cemetery is important is because when people visit there, they start to think more about what people are doing for our country. I would like to be chosen to lay the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown because I realize that soldiers are very important to me. It is amazing all of the things they have done for our country and our safety including the recent killing of Osama Bin Laden, the leader of the terrorist group who planned the 9 – 11 attacks. I think it is very sad that there are so many unknown soldiers and would be honored to lay the wreath at their tomb.

I have enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the children’s program at Arlington Cemetery for the last 3 years that my dad has worked for Nufarm and it would be an honor and a privilege to lay the wreath.

    - Tessa Pinkerton, Essay Winner

I think that the Arlington National Cemetery is important because the soldiers who have fought for our freedom are buried here and that is just amazing. Another reason I think that the cemetery is important is because the people buried here risked their lives for this country. A third reason is because two of our nations’ leaders are buried here and how astonishing that is. This cemetery is so important because these soldiers have fought for our freedom and our liberty and here they are remembered for what they knew was right and for the good of their families. They did this out of free will, some even dying for our country, and here they can be remembered for what they went through. I think I should get to lay the wreath because it would be a remarkable memory and it would be so cool because these people have done so much for us. Two of my great grandfathers fought in World War II and it would be a real honor since I loved them so much and think of them often. It would also be a once in a life time experience. I am religious and every night I pray for these soldiers and their families that they come home safe. To be able to honor them is awesome! Many different, marvelous people such as 8 of the Supreme Court members, 12 historical figures, 8 different kinds of Casualties of War and Honorary War Veterans and 4 explorers are all buried at the Arlington National Cemetery. All of these amazing people are appreciated here. Talk about a mind-blowing experience. I wish someday I can help remember people like that. That is why I think I should win and get to lay the wreath and that’s why I think the Cemetery is so important.

    - Isabella Moskowitz

Arlington National Cemetery has an emotional connection to my family. I went there last year, and looked upon rows and rows and rows, and yet more rows of white stone. To me, that’s what it was. White stone. Just white stone. I didn’t understand much about war, or fighting, or anything to do with that sort of thing. I was just a small child.

However, I did know one thing: war was weapons and fighting. It was where people killed each other, it was where only the strong, the fierce and ruthless, survived. No mercy or kindness. Just guns, bombs, and sharp metal edges. I thought about these weapons, sometimes. The boys in my class would sometimes talk about them, or pretend to be using them. I would just stick out my tongue and play with my friends.

I never thought about the people very much, though. I mean the soldiers who had fought, the people who had used those weapons. I had seen the names at Arlington, read them, but I had never seen past the name. I had never seen the person behind the name. What did I care, if I had never known them? What did I care, if they had lived before my time?

A little while ago, my father told me about the time he visited France, just after his high school graduation. He had asked my grandfather to take him to Normandy Beach. He thought it’d be cool to see a battlefield.

Here in the story, my father started to choke up. “Hannah,” he said, “you go around this turn and you see it.”

I was about to ask what “it” was, but he continued, face reddening, horror and sadness darkening his eyes. “Rows and rows of crosses. White crosses. Hannah, boys. Boys my age. Boys who didn’t know what they were getting into. Boys who didn’t understand war. Boys who died.” He burst into tears.

I began to understand. Boys, young, innocent boys, who thought they would go into battle and come out scarred heroes. Boys who died because of war, died because of rage that was not theirs, died because they cared for their country. They didn’t even know, didn’t understand. I began to cry, sobs making my small body shudder, images of young faces, unfamiliar to me, swimming through my mind, faces pale, eyes black.

“They had families, Hannah,” Dad whispered hoarsely. “People who cared for them, loved them, cried for them.”

I sobbed harder, thinking about the death those boys did not deserve, their young lives torn away by the rage of war. Who had they been? What were their lives? Who had loved them? Arlington is the same as Normandy. It honors those young, brave souls whose lives have been taken by bloodthirsty war. It honors those great and famous as well as those who are not known. It is what those who loved the late soldiers have left of their beloveds. It is what honors those who gave their lives to their country. It reminds us that people – youthful, hearty people – have given their greatest joy – life – so that we may all live a little happier.

It does not matter whether you know the soldier or not. Remember the sacrifice they made.

    - Hannah Hildebolt