Legion leadership attend ceremonies, perform wreath-laying and pay tribute to veterans at memorable event.
American Legion National Vice Commander Gary Leach’s first visit to Arlington National Cemetery will be etched in his memory for a long time.
“It was pretty amazing,” said Leach, a member of Yolo Post 77 in Woodland, Calif. “I never would have dreamt that I would be able to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It’s incredible to just be at Arlington, such a place of reverence. The only place I’d been before that is comparable is the USS Arizona Memorial. No matter what is going on, it seems so quiet and still at the Arizona Memorial.”
Leach, a Vietnam veteran who retired as a Navy senior chief petty officer in 1989, led an American Legion delegation that included Auxiliary National President Trish Ward and Sons of The American Legion National Commander Joseph Navarrete.
For Leach, his family is full of military service. His father served in the Marine Corps during World War II. His son is a Navy veteran who now serves in the California National Guard, and his grandson is currently serving with the Army’s 4th Infantry Division.
“What an honor it is,” he said, referring to the wreath-laying. “How is that I am so fortunate to get this opportunity? It’s humbling. You think of all the people who are there. It’s an amazing honor.”
Ward, a member of John P. Hand Unit 250 in Louisburg, Kan., also has deep family roots in military service. She is eligible for Auxiliary membership through her father, John M. Brusati, and her grandfather, Edmund S. Lindberg. Her father served in the Army in World War II, and her grandfather served in the Navy during WWII.
“It’s hard not to think of veterans in your family when you are in Arlington on Veterans Day,” she said. “I was thinking about what they would think about me representing them on this very special day. It’s especially good today with it being one of the most revered holidays for veterans.”
Ward was impressed by President Biden’s address as well as the outpouring of support as various veterans service organizations came together to honor veterans.
“It’s been a very challenging week for our American society and our citizens,” she said. “And when you come to Arlington on Veterans Day, it’s a very healing opportunity to see people come together in support of a common mission. One thing that makes The American Legion so great is being nonpartisan, we support no political parties. To see everybody come together today makes me think our country is in a mode of healing. My prayers are that the divisiveness that we’ve felt will melt away. For anyone at Arlington today, I would think they would think that as well.”
Navarrete's affiliation with The American Legion runs deep. He is a charter member of Otero-Garcia-Navarrete Squadron 72 in Albuquerque, N.M. His eligibility stems from his father, Tony Navarrete, a Vietnam-era Army veteran.
“It was a great experience,” he said. “Any time we get to honor our nation’s heroes, it’s emotional. My theme for the year is Honoring Our Heritage. And this goes right along with that.”
“It means a lot being able to represent our 400,000 members,” he said. “It gives me the opportunity to represent each and every one of them and be able to tell that story when I go out to visit the states and the squadrons and seeing what good work they do.”
- Honor & Remembrance