The Memorial Day Flowers Foundation honors those who have served Our Country. Thanks to the generosity of private, public, and corporate sponsors, the Foundation works with local organizers and volunteers to place roses and other flowers on grave sites at National, Veterans, and Local cemeteries across the United States.

The Memorial Day Flowers Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, was established in 2012 under Washington D.C. Law, to honor our veterans.

Memorial Day Flowers director Ramiro Peñaherrera explaining to this Gold Star Mother that
over Memorial Day Weekend 5000+ volunteers will place flowers at 600,000 gravesites

Volunteer next year: https://www.memorialdayflowers.org/volunteer/

A boy scout volunteer

Master Sgt. Joshua L. Wheeler, 39, of Roland, Oklahoma, died Oct. 22, in Kirkuk Province, Iraq, from wounds received by enemy small-arms fire during an operation.

Master Sergeant Joshua L. Wheeler is not only the recipient of a Purple Heart, he has also received 11 Bronze Stars. Four of the 11 Bronze Stars are with Valor.

Wheeler was a highly decorated soldier and had been deployed 17 times with most being in support of combat operations.

Wheeler was a master parachutist, and began his Army career immediately following his graduation from Muldrow High School, OK in 1994.

Female Army Pfc. Sam W. Huff, 18, of Tucson, Ariz.; assigned to the 170th Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died April 18, 2005 in Baghdad of injuries sustained April 17, 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated near her Humvee in Baghdad.

Death of a Tibetan in Iraq: A Tribute to Tenzin Dengkhim
A few days before he left the US to serve in Iraq just over five weeks ago, 19-year old Lance Corporal Tenzin Choeku Dengkhim went to make offerings at a Buddhist shrine. Friends assumed he was seeking protection for the conflict ahead. But he told them later that he had been praying that he would not have to kill any Iraqi people.

As far as his family knows, he didn’t. On Saturday 2 April 2005, Lance Cpl. Dengkhim was killed during a firefight in the Al Anbar province in Iraq, where he served as part of the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in the 2nd Marine Division based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He was the first Tibetan-American to die in the war in Iraq.

Tech. Sgt. Scott E. Duffman, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M. was killed in a MH-47 helicopter crash in Afghanistan on Sunday, February 17, 2007.

Of the 22 coalition personnel on board Sergeant Duffman and seven others were killed while 14 were injured when the helicopter crashed. They were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. According to a coalition press release the helicopter pilot reported a sudden loss of power and control just prior to the crash.

Sergeant Duffman, a pararescueman, was assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. The 24th STS falls under the 720th Special Tactics Group, a unit of Air Force Special Operations Command here.

Had the pleasue of meeting up with Melanie Nolen, the Gold Star Sister of Marine Cpl. Michael C. Nolen who died on June 27, 2011, while leading a combat operation in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Proud Gold Star Family members of Army Capt. Brian M. Bunting aka “Bubba”.

Brian 29, of Potomac, Md.; was assigned to the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New York National Guard, Syracuse, N.Y.; died Feb. 24, 2009 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.
Operation Enduring Freedom

Gold Star Sister Ami thinking of fond memories of her brother Army Spc. Christopher T. Neiberger who died August 6, 2007 serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Christopher 22, of Gainesville, FL.; was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany; died August 6, 2007 in Baghdad of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device.

John F. Kelly, former White House Chief of Staff, retired U.S. Marine Corps General along with his family visited their son Michael's gravesite.

On November 9, 2010, 1st Lt. Robert Michael Kelly USMC was killed in action when he stepped on a landmine while leading a platoon of Marines on a patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan.

Marine Staff Sergeant preforms military song of this fallen hero.

“Until We Meet Again Marine”

L/Cpl. Nicholas S. O’Brien, 21, of Stanley, North Carolina died June 9, 2011 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lcpl. O’Brien was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

Secret Service prepares for a visitor to Arlington's Section 60

Arlington National Cemetery Superintendent Katharine Kelley awaits her guest party

Vice President Mike Pence and his lovely wife Karen Sue arriving in Section 60 to pay their respects to the families of the fallen.

Stopping at the grave of Medal Of Honor recipient Ross Andrew McGinnis

Message is relayed to Alyssa Farah, Press Secretary for the Vice President.

Alyssa why have you Not replied to my e-mails, voice messages as promised by the Vice President in regards to the fate of these three “still missing” Marines from the Mayaguez incident. Lance Cpl. Joseph Hargrove, Pfc Gary Hall, and Pvt Danny Marshall.

Mr. Vice President when we first meet in 2018 you had said that you would help the families of these three “still missing” Marines, Lance Cpl. Joseph Hargrove, Pfc Gary Hall, and Pvt Danny Marshall..
Your people listened but did not follow up on the leads we had given them. Then on Memorial Day, May 27, 2019 you promised again that someone would get back to us. Then as you had requested gave your press secretary, Alyssa Farah my contact info and she gave me hers. Why has she never replied to my e-mails, voice messages as promised by you Sir, the Vice President of these United States?

Ms. Karen Durham-Aguilera, Executive Director Army National Military Cemeteries share some thoughts with Arlington National Cemetery Superintendent Katharine Kelley.

Army 1st Lt. Thomas J. Brown 26, of Burke, VA.; was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany; died Sept. 23, 2008 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his patrol came under small arms fire during dismounted operations. Brown was serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom.

At the Vietnam Women's Memorial tributes are left for the eight nurses who gave their lives during the Vietnam War. There names are etched in 'The Wall'.

Captain Eleanor Alexander, Second Lieutenant Carol Drazba, First Lieutenant Pamela Donovan, Lieutenant Colonel Annie Graham, Second Lieutenant Elizabeth Jones, First Lieutenant Sharon Lane, First Lieutenant Jerome Olmsted and Second Lieutenant Hedwig Orlowski.

SP4 David C. Cardinal Hyde Park NY's first casualty of Vietnam, Panel 47E, line 30

Since the Vietnam War ended, thousands of Vietnam veterans have died each year due to Agent Orange exposure, PTSD/suicide, cancer and other causes related to their service. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s (VVMF) In Memory program honors those who returned home from Vietnam and later died.

The plaque on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial site in Washington, D.C. that honors these veterans was dedicated in 2004 and reads: In Memory of the men and women who served in the Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service. We honor and remember their sacrifice.
In Memory was created in 1993 by the group – Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. VVMF began managing the program and hosting the ceremony in 1999. More than 4,100 veterans have been added to the In Memory Honor Roll since the program began.
https://www.vvmf.org/In-Memory-Program/