It feels like COVID-19 will never end.

My daughter, like many children across the United States, participate in “Wreaths Across America” where they work hard to raise money to lay wreaths on the graves of our most sacred warriors – those men and women who dedicated their lives in the service of the nation to protect our most sacred freedoms.

Now, those freedoms we hold so dear have become as fragile as the paper the Constitution was written on. The reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic and the random rules, lockdowns and selective (non-scientific) restrictions have encroached on our freedom and this wielding of power will be a tool governments will use to impose control over the people.

Give it time, you’ll see.

Arlington National Cemetery is outdoors and the ceremony is outdoors. The events can always be modified by the groups who will all be wearing masks.

But that is not enough for those imposing these restrictions. They are afraid that even if one person comes down with a light case of COVID-19 the left will target them and call them super-spreaders.

It’s a fear of being criticized by those charged with virtue signaling and it’s also a way to show support for those imposing restrictions across the nation- it’s a way of saying I’m one of you.

Those who are brave are buried beneath the earth of Arlington National Cemetery and their headstones are our reminders of what is worth fighting and dying for in our nation.

The COVID-19 pandemic should not allow our government to sidestep or pillage our American freedoms granted in the Constitution.

Read Arlington National Cemetery Press Release Below:

Due to the current COVID-19 situation across the nation and within the National Capital Region, it is with great regret that Arlington National Cemetery is canceling Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery and the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home Cemetery on December 19, 2020.

Following a thorough analysis of the annual Wreaths Across America Wreaths-In event this year, and in close collaboration with the Joint Task Force, National Capital Region, we determined that we could not implement sufficient controls to mitigate the risks associated with hosting an event of this size under current and forecasted infection and transmission rates, while still conducting a respectful and honorable public event.

“We did not make this decision lightly. Despite the controls developed to disperse potential crowds in time and space, and required personal safety protocols, we determined that hosting any event of this scale risked compromising our ability to accomplish our core mission of laying veterans and their eligible family members to rest,” stated Karen Durham-Aguilera, Executive Director, Office of Army National Cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery. “We reviewed various options to safely execute this long standing event and held numerous consultations with WAA leadership and local government and public health officials. We understand that although this is disappointing for so many, we could no longer envision a way to safely accommodate the large number of visitors we typically host during this event.”

ANC’s most sacred mission to lay our nation’s veterans and their family members to rest continues during this COVID-19 environment. In order to ensure that our primary mission takes place, and to protect our workforce and visitors, the cemetery is taking this proactive step to adhere to the guidance outlined by the CDC to prevent contracting or spreading respiratory illnesses like the flu or COVID-19.

“Our strong hope is to be able to resume hosting this great event next year in 2021,” said Charles “Ray” Alexander, Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery.  “While many of our families and visitors associate the wreath event with the holiday season, we thank all the thousands of volunteers who had planned to take this time to Honor, Remember, and Explore those who are laid to rest at our nation’s most hallowed ground. We invite everyone to virtually visit the cemetery through our multimedia platforms @ArlingtonNatl.”

Family pass holders and visitors are still welcome to visit the cemetery on their own schedules and place graveside tributes of privately purchased flowers or wreaths in accordance with our floral policy. Click here for more information. 

If this notification impacts your participation in the Wreaths Across America event, please visit their website for updated information: https://wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Check this website and our social media platforms (@ArlingtonNatl) for the most updated visitor information and COVID-19 policies and procedures, or contact our call center at 877-907-8585.

You can follow Sara A. Carter on Parler @SaraCarterOfficial