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Honoring America’s fallen heroes

EADS North America employees today joined thousands of volunteers who placed wreaths at the graves of fallen servicemen and women at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, paying tribute to their sacrifices in current and past conflicts.

12 December 2009

The company made a corporate donation to purchase wreaths equivalent to the total employment at EADS North America. Organized by Wreaths Across America in the state of Maine, the wreath-laying ceremony continues a tradition that began with the Worcester Wreath Company in 1992 – and today includes the laying of wreaths at more than 400 veterans’ cemeteries in all 50 states.


 Thomas F. Darcy, the vice president of Defense Electronics and Systems at EADS North America (foreground), and David D. Haines, vice president of the company’s Rotorcraft line of business, place wreaths at two headstones in Arlington National Cemetery.

“I was proud to place a wreath on my great-uncle’s stone to honor him for his service during World War II,” said Christine Stansell, administrative assistant at EADS North America. “I don’t think anyone has visited his grave in a long time, and it helped me to feel more connected to not only my family’s history, but the history of our country.”

During the event, volunteers of all ages placed fresh green wreaths, adorned simply with red bows, at the base of headstones. At the completion of the event, more than 15,000 wreaths decorated large sections of Arlington National Cemetery.

Stansell described a particularly poignant moment she witnessed. “I saw a little boy of about six years old putting a wreath on a grave that was so fresh, there was no headstone on which to lean it. It didn’t stop him from placing his wreath, and I was touched to hear him speaking to the person buried there.”

Kaye Butler, receptionist at EADS North America, met the woman whose U.S. Army Ranger son was buried in the grave where she chose to lay her wreath. “She had lots of family there to support her,” Butler said. “She was so brave. It was truly an emotional day.”

“Every headstone tells a story of unselfish courage, and it was a humbling experience to honor these fallen heroes,” added David Haines, vice president of EADS North America’s Rotorcraft line of business. “It is our duty to ensure they are never forgotten.”