Arkansas is home to five veterans cemeteries where the earthly remains of thousands who served their country are interred.
Three are national cemeteries, located in Little Rock, Fort Smith and Fayetteville. Two state veterans cemeteries are located in North Little Rock and Birdeye.
There is a peace and beauty in such places, a stillness and quiet. The markers all in neat rows, as if at attention. An atmosphere of reverence where the voices of visitors are seldom raised above a whisper.
Today will be a little different from most, though. It's the Christmas season, and volunteers will be placing wreaths at all the graves in these fields of honor.
It's part of a program called National Wreaths Across America Day. Family members are welcome to attend. There will be a ceremony at each cemetery, and the wreaths will be placed.
Organizers want to ensure that no veteran will be forgotten, no grave unadorned. It's a worthy goal. These cemeteries contain American heroes whose service dates back as far as the Civil War.
Many of the wreaths will be placed by family members, even if generations removed. But many of these late veterans have no one left to remember them.
Today they will. Today all will be remembered and honored.