'It’s something that is kind of overwhelming'

It was a steamy Monday in Washington, D.C., but as always, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery was guarded by the sentinels of the Tomb Guard.

The duty is a high honor, as is the placing of a wreath at the Tomb. That was a privilege Boys Nation senators Spencer Pipkin and Reid Stevens were grateful for after Monday’s ceremony, in which they laid a wreath on behalf of American Legion Boys Nation.

“I expected to feel a bit of remorse, of sorrow, but it was a lot more overwhelming than I thought it would be," said Pipkin, of Valdosta, Ga. "It was a lot more emotional than I was prepared for it to be. … When you’re standing there (beforehand), you’re pretty nervous, you’re not exactly thinking about the sacrifice that was made, but when you walk up and you get to that line, you think, there are three people in there that we don’t know that gave it all, and they can’t have the dignity of having their families know … it’s something that is kind of overwhelming."

“When we placed that wreath, I was overcome with a sense of liberty and freedom, knowing the history of the Tomb of the Unknown and experiencing, seeing a wreath laid before, it was just great to have that opportunity for myself and be able to take part in such a great moment,” said Stevens, of Starkville, Miss.

The two senators were joined in the ceremony by National Commander Dale Barnett and National Chaplain Randy Cash.

“The wreath symbolizes us as Americans and patriots having the opportunity to give back to those who didn’t have the chance for a proper funeral,” Pipkin said. “It’s like Boys Nation and the other people that lay these wreaths paying their final respects to these persons.”

Stevens said he had hoped he would be chosen. “Out of 98 guys to be one of the two is such a privilege,” he said. "I’ve seen (the wreath-laying) before, and I thought, that’s a really cool thing you get to place a wreath, you get all these people to watch that. But actually being down there, right in front of the Tomb with the soldiers and being able to place my hands on that wreath and lay it there was just an experience I would never have been able to expect.”

After the wreath-laying ceremony, the Boys Nation delegates toured Arlington Cemetery, with a stop at the Iwo Jima Memorial on the way back to Marymount University, where they returned to the business of establishing party platforms and selecting presidential candidates for the Federalist and Nationalist parties. The Nationalists selected Manny Jones of Bensalem, Pa., as their presidential candidate and Choteau Kammel of Omaha, Neb., as their vice presidential candidate. The Federalist ticket will be presidential nominee Anighya Crocker of Springfield, Tenn., and vice presidential candidate Rudy Ogburn of Raleigh, N.C.

But, as Pipkin noted, Monday morning’s experience will leave a lasting impression, and gratitude to the Legionnaires and other veterans.

“I think God has really blessed this nation with people that serve now, great people that have continued to serve even after they retire, or are discharged," he said. "I think it’s a great opportunity that these people bring to the table, and I think they bring a wealth of knowledge and it’s helping improve youth and helping us learn a lot, because we learn from people that are wiser than us."