Arlington Cemetery Service Will Honor APWU Vets

APWU members and their families are invited to a special wreath-laying ceremony Sept. 12 at one of the nation’s most hallowed memorial sites: Arlington National Cemetery.

The Saturday morning ceremony, which will honor all APWU veterans, living and dead, will be at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The event is the result of a formal request made six months ago by Moe Lepore, general president of the Boston Metro Area APWU, which will “host” the commemorative service.

The service will begin at 9:15 a.m., a few minutes after a changing of the guard. A uniformed wreath-bearer will assist Boston local members in placing the wreath as a bugler sounds “Taps.”

Lepore had visited the memorial grounds, which are managed by the Department of the Army, while at the Presidents Conference in Washington in March. “I inquired about the American Postal Workers Union placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on behalf of all APWU former and present veterans and their families,” he said. His request was approved almost immediately.

Four Boston Metro Area APWU members will formally take part in the ceremony: Jeffrey Baird, John Fraughton, William Weaver, and Kevin Jones. Jones, whose son, First Lieutenant Ryan Patrick Jones, was killed during combat operations in Iraq in May 2007, will serve as the “dignitary” during the wreath-laying. 

“I’ve been to many events at Arlington, and they never fail to stir my emotions,” said APWU Vice President Cliff Guffey. “It was an honor to serve in the military and it will be an honor to be at the ceremony.” APWU President William Burrus, who served in the 101st Airborne Division, was invited to participate, but, as a delegate to the AFL-CIO convention, will be unable to attend.

For information and Visitors Rules, which include a mandatory dress code for attendees at cemetery ceremonies, please visit www.arlingtoncemetery.org.