Giving Back to Those Who Gave All by Mary

Giving Back to Those Who Gave All by Mary - December 2016 Scholarship Essay

There are many things in my life that I would consider to be accomplishments. Whether it be my grades, work ethic, or family values, I have always pushed myself to make sure everything is the best that it can be. However, when people ask me of my accomplishments, I always think back to one major event a few years back that I have always considered to be my greatest honor and accomplishment. During a visit to Washington D.C. with my eighth grade class, I was chosen from countless other students in my school to be a part of the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. This event completely transformed me into a different person walking away and it continues to have an influence on my life today.
As I entered the gates of Arlington National Cemetery, I immediately felt the overwhelming sacredness of the atmosphere. As you looked around you, the area looked like a field of dandelions. In the distance the grass seemed to be covered in white dots from the amount of tombstones present. You could visually see each and every life that gave their all for our country. As I along with two other students prepared for the ceremony, the large crowds that had grown to experience the ceremony grew quiet. As the wreath was laid on the tomb and the taps were played in reverence, the bystanders remained silent. The ceremony was so incredibly sacred that it seemed as if it wasn’t only for the “unknowns”, but for each person laid to rest in the cemetery.
There are more than 400,000 people laid to rest at Arlington. Each tombstone you see contains a story of a life taken too soon and a family left behind. These people sacrificed their own lives to give us the freedoms we have today. Families stood by the graveside of their lost loved one with tear filled eyes as men folded up a flag to present to the family. As I walked through the cemetery, I pictured each tomb with a new family surrounding it. The sacrifices these soldiers made can never be repaid and I could never express my gratitude to the ones of the past or present. I gained a new perspective of the world we live in by seeing those tombstones. I walked in thinking it would just be a few stones and it would simply be a neat experience. Little did I know, the image of those stones would be permanently etched in my mind. Even as I left I could see all the freedoms we had and the true reason why we were able to continue to have them and live freely.
The wreath laying ceremony was an absolute honor to be able to experience. I will never be able to express to each individual how much their sacrifice has meant to me, but being able to place a wreath on the tomb of soldiers made me boast with pride. I will never forget that memorable day for the rest of my life. What an honor it is to live in the greatest country on Earth!