So We Will Always Be Free

No act of kindness, no matter how small,

is ever wasted.

In fact, it might even start a nation wide tradition. The owner of a wreath company in Maine found himself with 5,000 extra Christmas wreaths during the season of 1992. Rather than throw them out, he decided to truck them to Arlington National Cemetery and honor the memory of those who have died. The following year, Morrill Worcester decided not to wait for surplus wreaths, but instead planned ahead and donated 5,000 wreaths again to Arlington cemetery. For the next 13 years his acts (and those who helped him) of kindness were relatively unnoticed until several photos were sent around the Internet. Quickly it became an inspiration to many people, and now the Christmas wreaths can be found in several different states across the country. If you want to read the entire story you can read it here. I got the email earlier in December and was moved by the pictures. I'd been to Arlington when I was 13, and remembered how sacred the feeling was on those grounds. It was a hot and sweaty day in May, regardless you couldn't help but feel so small and humbled when you saw all those neatly lined headstones. Jeff and I went back to visit while we were in Virginia this Christmas, and the feeling hasn't changed. We truly felt gratitude and respect for those 320,000 who have been laid to rest in Arlington. I've mention before how much and why I love country music. It really speaks the thoughts of the heart and expresses so eloquently the things I want to say but can't ever find the words. Country artists usually sing about loyalty, honor, respect, family and things that are important to me. This song came to mind when we were walking through Arlington...

Trace Adkins

Arlington

"I never thought that this is where I'd settle down, I thought I'd die an old man back in my hometown,

They gave me this plot of land,

me and some other men, for a job well done.

There's a big white house sits on a hill just up the road, The man inside he cried the day they brought me home, They folded up a flag, and told my mom and dad, 'We're proud of your son'.

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property, I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company, I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done, I can rest in peace, I'm one of the chosen ones, I made it to Arlington.

I remember daddy brought me here when I was eight, We searched all day to find out where my granddad lay, And when we finally found that cross, He said, 'Son this is what it cost, to keep us free'.

Now here I am a thousand stones away from him, He recognized me on the first day I came in, And it gave me a chill, when he clicked his heels, and saluted me.

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property, I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company, And I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done, I can rest in peace, I'm one of the chosen ones, I made it to Arlington. And every time I hear, twenty-one guns, I know they brought another hero home, to us. We're thankful for those thankful for the things we've done, We can rest in peace, 'cause we were the chosen ones, We made it to Arlington, yea, dust to dust Don't cry for us, we made it to Arlington."