Sailors assigned to aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) traveled to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, July 21 to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

The event was organized as a heritage trip for petty officers first class who are a part of Abraham Lincoln's CPO 365 program.

Upon arriving, Sailors witnessed the traditional "Changing of the Guard" ceremony performed by Soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment. At the tomb, a delegation of four wreath-bearers picked from the group participated in the hourly wreath-laying ceremony.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Patrick Lumas, one of four wreath-bearers, said it was a great honor to commemorate the honorable men and women who made extraordinary sacrifices for the nation.

"It's very emotional being around here, seeing the resting place of all the people who died fighting for our country," said Lumas. "It was such an honor to be a part of a ceremony to honor them. I was inspired today, and I was motivated to keep going in my service to our nation."

The group also had the opportunity to visit the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C., to interact with residents. The home, which houses veterans from all military branches, is funded by all service members through a small deduction each paycheck.

"It's really priceless for [Abraham] Lincoln Sailors to experience this," said Chief Yeoman John Gramlick. "A lot of these men and women fought for our freedom in some of the biggest wars in history. For us to be able to give back in any way we can, whether that be by talking with them or taking them for a stroll outside, is a humbling experience. It really comes full circle."

CPO 365 is a year-round, Navywide Chiefs Mess training initiative to prepare petty officers first class to become chiefs.

Abraham Lincoln is undergoing Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries. It is the fifth ship of the Nimitz class to undergo a RCOH, a major life-cycle milestone. Once complete, Lincoln will be one of the most modern and technologically-advanced aircraft carriers in the fleet and will continue to be a vital part of the nation's defense.

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