DAR

Wa-Pe-Ke-Way Chapter
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
1776 D Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20006-5303
www.dar.org
For Immediate Release
Contact: Rhonda Beck
rhondajb7408@yahoo.com
April 18, 2021

A CALL TO HONOR: TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER REPLICA
COMING TO HENDRICKS COUNTY


In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a traveling replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Solider will be coming to Hendricks County in May. Avon American Legion Post #145, Brownsburg American Legion Post #331, Brownsburg VFW Post #6128, Danville American Legion Post #118, Pittsboro American Legion Post #426, Plainfield American Legion Post #329, and Wa-Pe-Ke-Way Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) have partnered together to bring the replica to the Fairgrounds May 18th and 19th.


The half scale tomb is an exact replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. It is owned and maintained by the Exchange Club of Rome, Ga. The event will kick-off with an opening ceremony at 10 am on Tuesday, May 18th. The sponsoring partners will each lay a wreath at the replica and invites any business or organization that would like to also lay a wreath to contact 317.268.6273. After remarks by the group, at the conclusion of the ceremony, Taps will be played.


The display can be seen at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds, Danville in Pavilion A, on Tuesday, May 18th from 10 am to 8:30 pm and Wednesday, May 19th from 10 am to 5 pm. Visitors are encouraged to use the Fair entrance across from the Danville Post Office. Viewing is free to the general public.


Representatives from the Exchange Club, who are all members of the Society of the Honor Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, will give presentations every hour on the hour and will be available to answer questions. Video will be played in a separate area that will provide additional information and history of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and through the video allow the visitors to take a peek into the quarters under the Tomb where the guards live. Exchange Club members will be available all day to provide information on the Tomb and answer questions.

The actual Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery includes the remains of unidentified soldiers from World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Remains of the Vietnam soldier originally interred in 1984 were identified using DNA in 1998 and were returned to his family to be interred elsewhere.


Rhonda Beck, DAR Service for Veterans Chair of the Wa-Pe-Ke-Way Chapter, said the sponsors are very excited to not only be working together but to be able to offer this opportunity to the public. Many people have never seen, nor have the opportunity, to visit Arlington Cemetery to pay tribute to those members of the United States Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives for our country and have not been identified.


To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit www.DAR.org or visit Wa-Pe-Ke-Way Chapter website at http://wapekeway.wixsite.com/wapekeway