Centennial of the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier ~ Never Forget Rose Garden

Yesterday was not only Veterans Day, but it was also the Centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown. For 100 years, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has served as the heart of Arlington National Cemetery. As a sacred memorial site and the grave of three unknown American service members, it stands as a people’s memorial that inspires reflection on service, valor, sacrifice and mourning. Since November 11, 1921, the Tomb has provided a final resting place for one of America’s unidentified World War I service members, and Unknowns from later wars were added in 1958 and 1984. (credit).

To commemorate this occasion, the national Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier enlisted the American Rose Society to encourage the creation of ‘Never Forget Gardens’ to ensure the millions of America’s war dead are forever honored and remembered. The American Rose Society (ARS) invited their members to create rose gardens as a living tribute to the Unknown Soldier.

As a member of the ARS and a veteran, this is a project that immediately I was on board for. The initial intent was to install the garden at home, but then my husband recommended reaching out to our local gathering place, which has a veterans memorial and see if they would be open to collaborating. They of course, loved the idea!

This has been by far, my most favorite and meaningful garden project. And like any project, it took some planning. To install the garden, the ARS provided a list of suggested roses, including the Niphetos. This is the original flower that was used in the first bouquet ever laid at the tomb. Unfortunately, this flower is not only hard to find, but because of our hardiness zones, not appropriate. So we had to look for hardy roses to zone 4. Thankfully the good people at Heirloom Roses have a great variety of cold hardy roses. We tried to stay with a patriotic when we could, And ultimately ended up choosing:

  • Hope for Humanity (clustered, double shrub red rose)

  • Bordeaux (fully double red rose)

  • Polar Express. (clustered, cupped, fully double white rose)

It is a small garden but once it fills in, it will look amazing. We are also expanding and adding 6-8 more bushes next growing season. We will remove the big shrubs in the gravel area and install the new roses in their place.

Photo taken in July. The roses are much bigger now.

Hope for HUmanity

Bordeaux

Polar Express

Polar Express

I love that our small town has such a place where people can come and honor our military history. And I am proud to put my touch in the memorial with something that is meaningful to me— roses— as a way to connect with people. It is one of my favorite things about flowers— their power to universally connect people with their symbolism and beauty. Have a wonderful weekend, friends.