Trump Reverses 'Ridiculous' Cancellation of Wreaths Across America Event at Arlington Cemetery
President Donald Trump said the annual Wreaths Across America event at the Arlington National Cemetery was back on after an earlier decision to cancel the program.
"I have reversed the ridiculous decision to cancel Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery," Trump wrote on Twitter.
FOX News noted that Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy announced the reversal on the Wreaths Across America cancellation before Trump tweeted.
He also extended his appreciation to families and visitors who wish to honor and remember those laid to rest at the national cemetery.
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The program was held yearly in honor of fallen soldiers through wreaths across the country and abroad. But the Arlington National Cemetery on Monday said it was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Breitbart reported.
Karen Durham-Aguilera, the executive director of Arlington National Cemetery, said the ceremony's scale could compromise the cemetery's ability to lay the veterans to rest properly.
For her, hosting the event considering the forecasted infection and transmission rates would be a challenge for the public event. Durham-Aguilera added that while the news is disappointing for so many, the cemetery could not find a safe way to host the event.
She also said the decision to cancel was not made lightly and said that they conducted a "thorough analysis" of how to safely hold the event before they come up with the decision to cancel.
Wreaths Across America said in a statement on Facebook that they were against the decision. The group added that their team was "working tirelessly with local, state, and national officials to ensure that all of our outdoor wreath-placement events are done so safely."
The Wreaths Across America event has been scheduled for December 19 at the Arlington National Cemetery and the Soldiers' and Airmen's Home Cemetery.
Further details on the said wreath-laying event are still in the works, but the Army promised an update on the details soon.
In a statement, Wreaths Across America executive director Karen Worcester said they are working with the Arlington Cemetery's leadership towards a safe placement of wreaths.
She said Arlington's leadership showed a "willingness to work with us to develop other options" for the wreath-laying.
Officials React to Cancellation of Wreaths Across America
Before the statement of Wreaths Across America was released, several officials urged the Army to reconsider the cancellation of the wreath-laying event.
"I encourage Army leaders to reconsider this decision," said Republican Senator Tom Cotton in a The Hill report.
According to a Daily Wire report, he pointed out the "double standard" that came after thousands of people have held rallies in D.C. for the past couple of weekends for both Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.
He said he was sure volunteers could responsibly put wreaths on graves for the fallen heroes at Arlington.
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Another Republican, Rep. Dan Crenshaw, also urged the cemetery to reconsider. A veteran himself, he said the cemetery can still hold the event safely by imposing measures to protect attendees.
"Large areas, outside and well spaced, with masks on, is perfectly safe. Our fallen deserve to be remembered," Crenshaw said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, outdoor spaces are safer than indoor venues for people to gather. But it also depends on how closely people interact outdoors and if people practice everyday preventive actions.
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