Carol Coney and Lawrence Harrison, both members of the BVA Mid-Atlantic Regional Group who reside in Washington, DC, joined other Association members and their families throughout the country who paused on Memorial Day to remember the ultimate sacrifice of the hundreds of thousands of men and women who have given their lives to preserve the nation’s freedoms.

Accompanied by sighted guides Kathryn Coney-Ali (daughter) and Stan Wright (Pastor), Carol and Lawrence carried the U.S. flag and the BVA flag, respectively, in a special “Parade of Colors” composed of Veterans Service Organization flags and marchers. The procession was witnessed by some 5,000 onlookers in Arlington National Cemetery’s Memorial Amphitheater and thousands more via livestream. The “National Emblem March,” played by the U.S. Coast Guard Band, signaled the start of the 156th Annual Remembrance Ceremony.

Addressing the crowd were Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, and President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Additional music was offered by the U.S. Air Force Band’s Singing Sergeants.

“Decade after decade, tour after tour, these warriors fought for our freedom and the freedom of others, because freedom has never been guaranteed,” said President Biden in referring to the fallen buried in plots surrounding the Amphitheater. “Every generation has to earn it; fight for it; defend it in battle between autocracy and democracy, between the greed of a few and the rights of many.”

Following the Amphitheater ceremony, BVA National Executive Director Don Overton, National Deputy Director of Government Relations Alek Libbin, and Webmaster Jordan Chesley presented an organizational wreath to members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as “The Old Guard,” at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.