Our blog has been devoted to preserving our retirement travels and other significant events since we started it several years ago. Occasionally, our granddaughter has "hijacked" the blog when she was with us and we've always found that to be some of the more memorable and interesting musings when we look back.
This entry into our blog is a link to Anna's "new" blog. She has watched and participated in many of our blog entries over the years and she has decided to create her own blog to record the significant events in her life.
One of the motivating force behind her creation of her blog is her recent 8th grade class trip to Washington, DC.
In preparation for her trip, her class was asked to submit an essay on the personal meaning of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Her essay was chosen as one of the 4 best from over 400 entries submitted by her and her classmates.
As a result of her essay, she was one of four students chosen to participate in the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier - a very special honor. We are very proud of her.
This is a link to her blog in which she shares her insights of the special places she visited on her trip:
http://annainscoe.blogspot.com/
And this is her essay.
I went to DC when I was younger and visited Arlington National Cemetery. Seeing the unending rows of headstones was haunting, thinking that for every headstone a soldier had died. Engraved on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier it says, “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier but known to God.” The honor guard proudly marched back and forth for what felt like hours. These unknowns are treated with such respect, even though they are no longer alive, we still acknowledge their rights and treat them with such admiration.
I feel so much gratitude to those who have served our country to protect our freedom. Each bullet they shot, each day they fought they knew it was worth it to protect us. The soldiers sacrificed so much; their time, lives and comfort, to protect our country. It gives me so much pride to know there are people who love our country so much that they are willing to sacrifice their lives for it.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier represents the loss and sacrifice of so much, every body that was forgotten, every death of a soldier. These men who cannot be identified as anyone but an unknown. They each had stories, families and histories we cannot remember. These soldiers and their families were so brave, and they deserve more of a title than an unknown. This is how we remember them, every hour of every day they will be honored for their sacrifices.
We have so many holidays to honor the living, so many ways to celebrate them. However, there are not enough ways to celebrate those who have passed. I would be honored to take part in respecting our fallen for they help us in so many ways. They inspire us and remind us that our freedoms are important and should be valued, and we cannot take our protection for granted. This cemetery reminds us that our protection, rights, and freedom come with a price.
This ceremony would be such a great honor to be a part of. My family has a legacy in the military with my grandpa in the Air Force, great-grandpa in the Army and Uncle in the Navy. I feel that this ceremony would be a way for me to honor them as well as the other fallen soldiers. This ceremony is a way for me to express the overwhelming gratitude I feel when I think about these soldiers and the patriotism they inspire in me. These men are our country’s heroes and it would be such an honor if you would allow me to represent Mills Park at this once in a lifetime opportunity. Thank you for your consideration.
Anna Inscoe
