So when green industry events happen, and the opportunity presents itself to escape the confines of the office, journalists get excited.
I know I was excited when I had the opportunity to visit Arlington National Cemetery and watch dozens upon dozens of landscapers, irrigation professionals, maintenance crews, turf professionals and so many more volunteer their time at PLANET’s Renewal & Remembrance event.
It was my first time attending the event, and it was also my first time seeing Arlington National Cemetery.
It was a lot to take in to say the least.
The initial banquet seemed calm enough, but when Monday morning hit, everyone went into work mode immediately. I was told right off the bat, “If you don’t keep up, you’ll get lost in the shuffle.”
As I headed out into the cemetery grounds, my initial thoughts were getting to my end point to get done what I needed to get done. However, my thought process quickly changed as I turned a corner heading downhill through the 16-mile cemetery.
As I turned the corner, my feet stopped hurting, my back seemed stronger and my eyes grew wider as I gazed out upon thousands of graves before me.
I stopped, took a minute to gather my thoughts and took a different attitude moving forward.
I like to think everyone did that day.
Everyone came to Arlington National Cemetery with a job to do, but for those who took a second to analyze the situation, you did your job a little different that day.
This was not another press conference, and this was not another jobsite. This was a culmination of the past, present and future coming together in one place.
As I turned that corner thinking how far I had to walk, my thoughts turned into blessings and feeling honored I was able to even participate.
I walked a lot that day in and around hundreds of tombstones, and I could not be more thankful that I was able to slow down, take a look and wind through miles of history.
