Volunteers spruce up Woodlawn Cemetery for Veterans Day

By Jacqueline LeekerNovember 12, 2009

Volunteers spruce up Woodlawn Cemetery for Veterans Day
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A WWII Air Force Veteran smiles at the card an elementary student from Fort Belvoir made for him. Some of the veterans at the Armed Forces Retirement Home said they wanted to accept the cards on behalf of the Vietnam Veterans who did not receive the ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Volunteers spruce up Woodlawn Cemetery for Veterans Day
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Volunteers from Belvoir Elementary, Dale City / Prince William County Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction Inc. Top Teens, Belvoir Soldiers, parents, and teachers came together Saturday morning to rake and bag leaves, clear debris, cut grass, and pla... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Volunteers spruce up Woodlawn Cemetery for Veterans Day
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Volunteers spruce up Woodlawn Cemetery for Veterans Day
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Belvoir Elementary student helps Sgt. Maj. Jeff Brown plant a tree during the Veterans Day Woddlawn Cemetery clean-up on Saturday. The tree was planted to replace one that had fallen. Brown told the volunteers to, "take pride in your efforts, this ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Volunteers spruce up Woodlawn Cemetery for Veterans Day
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BELVOIR, Va. -- Freedom Team Salute honors students for their work.

About 50 volunteers gathered at Woodlawn Cemetery Saturday morning with rakes in hand and arrived early to clean up the cemetery, in honor of Veterans Day.

Volunteers included students from Fort Belvoir Elementary School; the Dale City/Prince William County chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., and the group's Top Teens; Belvoir Soldiers, parents and teachers. They came together to rake and bag leaves, clear debris, cut grass, and place flags at graves in honor of the veterans who are buried there. Two and a half hours and 100 bags of leaves and debris later, the cemetery was clean.

Sgt. Maj. Jeff Brown helped the volunteers plant a new tree because one had fallen down earlier in the year. Volunteers also build two commemorative benches during the cleanup.

Tuesday night at FBES, the Freedom Team Salute Program gave each volunteer a commendation package in recognition for their work.

The program exists to recognize the enduring bond between Soldiers, family, veterans and communities. It celebrates the sacrifices made by those who support America's Soldiers, honors the millions of Army veterans who have served and is a living connection to the ideals of duty, honor and patriotism.

Students were also honored for creating thank you cards for veterans. The cards were given to veterans who live in Washington, D.C. at the Armed Forces Retirement Home Nov. 5. Some veterans said they wanted to accept the cards on behalf of the Vietnam Veterans who did not receive the same appreciation.