Wreath-laying ceremony honors JFK’s contributions to Army’s special forces
ARLINGTON, Va. — Under Thursday’s perfect blue skies, soldiers from the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) gathered to honor President John F. Kennedy at his gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery during a wreath-laying ceremony. At the solemn event, four men had the honor of placing the wreath at the headstone: JFK’s grandson Jack Schlossberg, Command Chief Warrant Officer of the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) Felix Mosqueda, 7th Special Forces Division Sgt. Maj. Mike Clayton and Commander of the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) Maj. Gen. Lawrence Ferguson.
Feelings ran deep as the US Army’s 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) honored the commitment and contributions of President John F. Kennedy to the Special Forces Regiment during a wreath-laying ceremony Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024 in Washington at Arlington National Cemetery. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Command Chief Warrant Officer of 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) Felix Mosqueda, left, 7th Special Forces Division Sgt. Maj. Mike Clayton, Commander of the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) Maj,. Gen. Lawrence Ferguson, and John F. Kennedy’s grandson Jack Schlossberg return from laying a wreath during a wreath-laying ceremony to honor President John F. Kennedy Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024 in Washington at Arlington National Cemetery. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Members of the US Army’s 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) honor the commitment and contributions of President John F. Kennedy to the Special Forces Regiment during a wreath-laying ceremony Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024 in Washington at Arlington National Cemetery. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Sgt. Maj. Clayton then placed his beret on the headstone before descending the steps with the others. A moment of silence followed, broken only by the piercing cries of a bagpipe rendition of Taps filling the air. Bass vocalist Sgt. 1st Class Heath Sorensen sang “The Ballad of the Green Berets” (perhaps forgetting a phrase of the lyrics during the song) accompanied by the brassy timbre of two trumpets, a French horn, a euphonium, and a trombone.
Medal of Honor recipient Master Sergeant Earl D. Plumlee attends the US Army’s 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) to honor the commitment and contributions of President John F. Kennedy to the Special Forces Regiment during a wreath-laying ceremony Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024 in Washington at Arlington National Cemetery. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
A bagpiper prepares to perform before the US Army’s 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) honors the commitment and contributions of President John F. Kennedy to the Special Forces Regiment during a wreath-laying ceremony Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024 in Washington at Arlington National Cemetery. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
A bagpiper plays as the US Army’s 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) honors the commitment and contributions of President John F. Kennedy to the Special Forces Regiment during a wreath-laying ceremony Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024 in Washington at Arlington National Cemetery. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
After the “Army Song” by the brass band and a benediction from a chaplain, members of the public were allowed to approach the gravesite to pay their respects, take pictures — some with selfie sticks — and preserve the special day in their memories.
Bass vocalist Sgt. 1st Class Heath Sorensen, left, and the US Army Band performs “The Ballad of the Green Berets” as the US Army’s 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) honors the commitment and contributions of President John F. Kennedy to the Special Forces Regiment during a wreath-laying ceremony Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024 in Washington at Arlington National Cemetery. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Members of the public photograph the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy following the US Army’s 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) wreath-laying at his headstone Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024 in Washington at Arlington National Cemetery. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
The wreath laid by the US Army’s 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) to honor the commitment and contributions of President John F. Kennedy to the Special Forces Regiment during a ceremony Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024 in Washington at Arlington National Cemetery. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
The beret of 7th Special Forces Division Sgt. Maj. Mike Clayton that he laid on the headstone of President John F. Kennedy during a wreath-laying ceremony performed by the US Army’s 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) to acknowledge the commitment and contributions of Kennedy to the Special Forces Regiment Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024 in Washington at Arlington National Cemetery. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)