An official website of the United States Government 
Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov

.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Senior Enlisted Leaders Place Wreath at Tomb to Mark Armed Forces Day

You have accessed part of a historical collection on defense.gov. Some of the information contained within may be outdated and links may not function. Please contact the DOD Webmaster with any questions.

The senior enlisted leaders of the Defense Department and the Coast Guard placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery today to mark Armed Forces Day.

Senior enlisted leaders place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 20, 2017, in honor of Armed Forces Day. DoD photo by Jim Garamone
Senior enlisted leaders place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 20, 2017, in honor of Armed Forces Day. DoD photo by Jim Garamone
Senior enlisted leaders place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 20, 2017, in honor of Armed Forces Day. DoD photo by Jim Garamone
Wreath-Laying Ceremony
Senior enlisted leaders place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 20, 2017, in honor of Armed Forces Day. DoD photo by Jim Garamone
Photo By: Jim Garamone
VIRIN: 170520-D-FN314-003

Army Command Sgt. Maj. John W. Troxell, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Ronald L. Green, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Steven S. Giordano, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven W. Cantrell and Sgt. Maj. Don Rose, representing the Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey, participated in the ceremony.

The service senior enlisted leaders placed the seal of their service on the wreath, and Troxell, as the senior enlisted leader in the joint force, placed the wreath at the tomb.

All-Enlisted Ceremony

It was an all enlisted ceremony, too. An Army command sergeant major was the commander of troops, a sergeant major conducted The U.S. Army Band in the national anthem, and each of the services' honor guards were commanded by noncommissioned officers or petty officers.

Army Staff Sgt. Ruth Hanks, the Tomb of the Unknowns sergeant of the guard, explains what the accouterments on her uniform mean to Army Command Sgt. Maj. John W. Troxell, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven W. Cantrell at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 20, 2017. DoD photo by Jim Garamone
Army Staff Sgt. Ruth Hanks, the Tomb of the Unknowns sergeant of the guard, explains what the accouterments on her uniform mean to Army Command Sgt. Maj. John W. Troxell, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven W. Cantrell at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 20, 2017. DoD photo by Jim Garamone
Army Staff Sgt. Ruth Hanks, the Tomb of the Unknowns sergeant of the guard, explains what the accouterments on her uniform mean to Army Command Sgt. Maj. John W. Troxell, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven W. Cantrell at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 20, 2017. DoD photo by Jim Garamone
Tomb of the Unknowns
Army Staff Sgt. Ruth Hanks, the Tomb of the Unknowns sergeant of the guard, explains what the accouterments on her uniform mean to Army Command Sgt. Maj. John W. Troxell, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven W. Cantrell at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 20, 2017. DoD photo by Jim Garamone
Photo By: Jim Garamone
VIRIN: 170520-D-FN314-002

“It’s our way of marking Armed Forces Day and beginning the commemoration of Memorial Day,” Troxell said after the ceremony. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia, Troxell’s predecessor, began the tradition.

The fact that it was an all-enlisted review is nothing new to Troxell. “This is what we do as an empowered enlisted force: we operate under commanders' intent to do the mission,” Troxell said.

“NCOs do this every day around the world. Having my battle buddies out there with me is huge in showing the importance of the enlisted force,” he added.

Tour of Tomb Guard Quarters

After the ceremony, the enlisted leaders visited the tomb guard quarters underneath the Memorial Amphitheater. Tomb guards and tomb guards in training gave them a tour of the facility and told the enlisted leaders about their training and their motivation. 

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven W. Cantrell meets a Korean War veteran from Midland, Texas, at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 20, 2017. DoD photo by Jim Garamone
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven W. Cantrell meets a Korean War veteran from Midland, Texas, at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 20, 2017. DoD photo by Jim Garamone
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven W. Cantrell meets a Korean War veteran from Midland, Texas, at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 20, 2017. DoD photo by Jim Garamone
Honor Flight Veterans
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven W. Cantrell meets a Korean War veteran from Midland, Texas, at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 20, 2017. DoD photo by Jim Garamone
Photo By: Jim Garamone
VIRIN: 170520-D-FN314-001

“Meeting the guards was impressive,” Cantrell said. “Meeting them and hearing their stories is a treat. While we’re not part of DoD, we are very proud to be members of the joint force.”

The senior enlisted leaders then went back to the tomb to watch the changing of the guard, presided over by Army Staff Sgt. Ruth Hanks of the 3rd Infantry Regiment , The Old Guard.

Chance Meeting With Veterans

As the senior enlisted leaders arrived for the ceremony, they serendipitously met veterans from an Honor Flight from Midland, Texas. The veterans were from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm, and Iraq and Afghanistan vets were helping their older compatriots. Two of the veterans charged ashore at Normandy, France, on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

After meeting the senior enlisted leaders, one of the Texas vets turned to a friend and said, “It was nice meeting them, but even after 70 years, I still get nervous meeting a sergeant major.”

Related Stories

No items to display