(ARLINGTON, Va.) - - Assistant Director-in-Charge, Washington Field Office Federal Bureau of Investigation, Valerie Parlave, and Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commanding general Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region/U.S. Army Military District of Washington laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Nov. 20, 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.
"The FBI is one of our key interagency partners in the National Capital Region and they do a phenomenal job protecting us every day," said Buchanan. "We wanted to invite them to the Tomb to continue to strengthen our relationship."
"The motto of the FBI is Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity. These values can also be applied to the principled and honorable sentinels who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier," said Parlave. "It is a true honor to be asked to participate in this solemn ritual and pay respect to those who have served our great nation through our military. It is also an opportunity for me and the employees of the Washington Field Office to reflect on the immense pride we have for the nation we serve."
The FBI was created in 1908 by Attorney General Charles Bonaparte during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. Today, the FBI remains dedicated to its core values and ethical standards. The commitment to these values and standards ensures that the FBI effectively carries out its mission: protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats; uphold and enforce the criminal laws of the United States; and provide leadership and criminal justice services to federal, state, municipal, and international agencies and partners.
"The FBI's relationship with the Military District of Washington is a true partnership, and we are grateful for their cooperation, teamwork, and support. We share many of the same characteristics. Our dedication and our willingness to serve is the same," said Parlave. "We share in a mission to protect and defend the U.S. against attack, and therefore, we work together and train together. We strive to understand the current threat picture in the National Capitol Region and beyond, and we share intelligence that is both developed and received by our organizations."
"It was very moving for me. Of course Arlington is sacred ground for us and every time I step out on the plaza it is very moving," said Buchanan. "To see their emotional response re-enforces it with me."
"I was truly honored to receive the invitation from the Military District of Washington to participate in this wreath-laying. We continuously work to uphold our relationships with our partner agencies, and the Military District of Washington is a vital partner in our joint efforts in this region," said Parlave. "We look forward to enjoying many more years of an ever-strengthening bond between us, and we will continue our cooperation and coordination to remain worthy of the honor afforded to the FBI today."
Social Sharing