Arlington — All was quiet, there was no laughter in the air, not even the children spoke. Everyone knew this was a sacred and somber place. It is where family and friends come to see their loved ones who died while serving this country.

The day began with the sun glinting off of the rolling hills of marble, flowing across the land as far as the eye could see. Hundreds of thousands of fathers, brothers, sisters and mothers lay here, all of whom gave the ultimate sacrifice fighting with honor, courage and the utmost commitment for their country in conflicts from as far back as the Civil War.

It was a bitter cold day, but the sun warmed up the faces that reflected off of the rows of white headstones in Arlington National Cemetery. They stood as symbols of service and sacrifice, but this time they did not stand alone.

On Dec. 11, 55 Marines with Marine Corps Combat Service Support School, Camp Johnson, N.C., embarked on a seven-hour trip that would take them to Arlington, Va., the final resting place for more than 300,000 service members, civilians and presidents.

The Marines came to pay their respects to service members who came before them and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. For many Marines, this was the first time visiting the cemetery.

“It’s a new experience for me,” said Pfc. Dennise Alava, a student with MCCSSS. “I came to pay my respects and show my gratitude for those who fought for this country.”

What started out with a few dozen friends laying 5,000 wreaths in a corner of Arlington in 1992, blossomed to thousands of people coming to lay wreaths every second Saturday of December from places as far as California, Washington and Florida. The amount of wreaths placed on the headstones now totals more than 15,000.

Although the numbers are staggering, each wreath is placed with tender care and thought.

Wreath-layers were asked to take one wreath and then take the time to select one hero to honor with a wreath and if they have a religious preference, a prayer.

Throughout the cemetery Marines took time out of the day to stand, kneel or sit by a grave and offer a prayer, talk or shed a few tears for someone they never knew.

The Marines placed their wreaths covering an entire section of the cemetery, however, they weren’t quite finished, they still had wreaths to lay at one more section of Arlington. A section often called ‘the saddest acre in America.’

The United Service Organization sponsored 1,000 extra wreaths for section 60, the final resting place for fallen service members from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Alongside the Marines, families of the fallen placed their wreaths on the graves of their loved ones.

One of the family members present was Ruth Stonesifer, who lost her son to a Black Hawk crash during the first night of Operation Enduring Freedom and is now a member of the American Gold Star Mothers.

“Sometimes during moments of panic we fear that our children will be forgotten,” said Stonesifer. “Seeing a group of strangers paying their respects to their graves gives us hope that they will not be forgotten.”

Although each wreath was a simple one made from balsam fir trees with a bright red bow, they had a great impact on people attending. Throughout the cemetery mothers, fathers, friends and siblings cried as they reached out to touch the headstone of a deceased loved one.

Each headstone bears the name, rank, military branch, birth date and the day they passed away. Most service members were in their early to mid-20s, who never got to experience a full life, raise a family or come back to see their loved ones.

“The goal for Wreaths Across America is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach our children the value of freedom,” said Morrill Worcester, founder of Wreaths Across America. “These are families here, they’re not just stones, they’re not graves, this is our history.”