A Christmas Wreath for Cousin Don

Our cousin, Joyce Brown Schulte, Mom's niece, writes from her home near Milwaukee, where she lives with her husband, George.

Joyce writes:

We were so glad to see your Mom looking so much better in your blog pictures. Did she tell you we visited her on Sept. 22? George and I drove from Milwaukee to see her as well as my cousin in Benson, Minn.

Stan says:

Joyce's brother (my cousin), Don Brown, died last January. His obituary is posted on this blog, use the search key "Don Brown" in the search box to find it. Among many other things, Don was an enthusiastic Boy Scout leader, as is his son, Marty. An annual scout activity is the laying of Christmas wreaths in Arlington Cemetery, where Marty and his boys have for years joined other Americans in this relatively new holiday tradition. http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/
This week, Don's grandsons laid a wreath on Col. Don Brown's grave site at Arlington, in memory of this inspirational figure.

Joyce continues:

The tradition of placing Christmas wreaths at Arlington began in 1992 when a man in Maine donated 5000 wreaths to be placed next to the headstones. For some years, Don Brown’s son, Marty, and his wife, Kellie, accompanied the Boy Scouts of Smithburg, MD to Arlington National Cemetery to place Christmas wreaths.

Among the Scouts this Dec. 13 were Alex and Conner Brown, who placed a wreath on Don Paul Brown’s headstone. The boys are grandsons of Don Brown. Don’s father was Ralph Brown, brother of Beverly Brown Rolfsrud.

Don retired from a position at Fort Derrick, Frederick, Md. and he and his wife, Gladys, built a house in Smithsburg. Here Don generously gave his time and energy to the Boy Scouts. He was a troop leader and mentor for many boys, especially his grandsons, Alex, Conner and Harrison.

(This photo was taken in 2001 with Don, Conner and Alex.)

Alex received his Eagle Scout award two days after his grandfather died. Don was very proud of "his Scouts."

Don died Jan. 31 in Hagerstown, MD. Don served in the Army and spent one year in Vietnam. He also served in France, Germany, and various posts in the United States. Don's sons, Mike and Marty, were born in France.

Don’s cremains were interred in Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 2008. About 40 family members, relatives and friends gathered at Arlington for the ceremony. A solemn procession traveled from the “Old Chapel” to the gravesite. Included in the procession was an escort platoon and a military band, followed by the horse-drawn caisson and riderless horse.

The ceremonies included music, taps, drum roll, gun volley and the folding of the flag. It was all very impressive and moving.

Joyce Brown Schulte