American Legion Vice Commander Frank Peters leads Legion Family delegation at Arlington National Cemetery, lays a wreath and pays tribute to all past and present servicemembers on Veterans Day.
American Legion National Vice Commander Frank Peters led an American Legion Family delegation that placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day.
“It's a great honor to lay the wreath on behalf of The American Legion, and also to attend the event representing The American Legion,” said Peters, a member of American Legion Gold Star Post 1365 in Staten Island, N.Y. “I was kind of overwhelmed with the enormity of it all. It was just a great experience. I'm very proud to represent The American Legion, proud to be a national vice commander and have the opportunity to represent the national commander at a great event such as this. It really is special.”
Peters was seated on the stage just behind President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. The Navy veteran was taken in by the remembrance ceremony, as well as the hallowed grounds. He cited the gravesites of President Kennedy, Audie Murphy and others, as well as the Seabees Memorial, the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial, the nearby Air Force Memorial, a 9/11 memorial and the Women Veterans Memorial.
“I know that has been a project that The American Legion has supported in the past,” he said of the women’s memorial at the front of Arlington National Cemetery. “They're doing a great job. The president of that organization (Phyllis Wilson) has spoken at our national conventions. It also is a great honor to see what The American Legion has done through partnerships with other organizations in preserving the history, especially of female veterans, right here at Arlington.”
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For the wreath-laying, Peters was accompanied by Sons of The American Legion National Commander Thomas Skelley and American Legion Auxiliary President Dr. Coral Grout.
Skelley, a member of Squadron 208 of Kerrville, Texas, was proud to represent the 405,000 SAL members.
“You think about the honors that come with the title and nothing could be more humbling than to be able to do what we did today,” he said. “The servicemen and women who came before us, their sacrifices, just being in Arlington is unreal to begin with. But to be able to actually place the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown has got to be the highlight of the year.”
Skelley is eligible for SAL membership through his father, William M. Skelley Sr., who served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. His son is in the Navy.
“They are always on my mind at any time,” Skelley said. “But I thought about the families as we were driving the tram up from the visitor center to the Tomb of the Unknown. You're looking and trying to read the grave markers and the names on there and saying their names out loud so that you honor them. It's always about family. I think about not only that veteran that's lying here on such holy ground, but you think about the families and what they went through.”
Skelley looked ahead to another major day of remembrance: Wreaths Across America Day.
“Being here makes me think how important Wreaths Across America is,” he said. “Back home in South Carolina, we're very close to Fort Jackson. We were just made aware that they're about 10,000 wreaths short. So if you can, please consider sponsoring as many as you can. Let's honor the veterans who made their sacrifice.”
- Veterans Day