(ARLINGTON, Va.) - - Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, Commanding General Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region/U.S. Army Military District of Washington and U.S. Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Sept. 18, 2013.
The wreath laying was part of an ongoing engagement program between JFHQ-NCR/MDW and its interagency partners. Laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is an honor usually bestowed upon military personnel and visiting foreign dignitaries.
"Our partnerships with the incredible law enforcement agencies in this city are critical to our ability to effectively support those in need in a time of crisis," said Buchanan. "These are our brothers and sisters and we're honored that they would take the time out of their extremely busy schedules to pay tribute to our Nation's honored fallen."
"The opportunity to pay respect at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a rare honor for a non-military citizen of the United States. In honoring the "Unknowns" today, we also honored all military men and women who have died in protection of our country and the freedoms we hold dear," said Chambers. "We in the United States Park Police work alongside our military partners on a regular basis, and today provided an opportunity for us to also pay respect to all those who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces."
The U.S. Park Police was created in 1791 by President George Washington. The United States Park Police is a unit of the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, with jurisdiction in all National Park Service areas and certain other Federal and State lands. The United States Park Police provide law enforcement services to designated areas within the National Park Service, primarily the Washington, D.C., New York City and San Francisco metropolitan areas.
"To have taken part in such a meaningful and moving ceremony is an honor I do not take lightly and one on which I will reflect with reverence and gratitude for a lifetime," said Chambers.
"We come together for large events such as inaugurations and State of the Union Addresses, but what makes the relationship effective is that we work together every day," said Buchanan. "On the military side, we understand how our partners operate and how we can best support them. It's a great partnership."
The United States Park Police values include integrity, honor and service which mirror that of the U.S. Army.
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