Volunteers turn out to protect Arlington National Cemetery

From Elizabeth Vowell
CNN

ARLINGTON, Virginia (CNN) - The hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery took on a different tone Monday - the usually quiet and reverent resting place of fallen heroes was buzzing with volunteers, professional landscapers and their equipment during the annual "Renewal and Remembrance" project.

"Renewal" was started more than 10 years ago by an Ohio lawn-care group that wanted to give a day of service to the cemetery outside Washington, D.C., according to Bill Hildebolt, spokesman for the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) association.

"It's grown fantastically from a few lawn-care operators to today we had over 400 individual PLANET members," he said Monday.

Each year, volunteers take on several projects during the service day, including spreading lime over nearly 300 acres of the cemetery and installing irrigation systems, Hildebolt said.

While the 95 companies participating Monday may normally compete for business in the lawn-care market, during Renewal the crews work together to honor the service members buried at Arlington.

"It's just a day of remembrance," said Jeff Dietrich of Pennsylvania-based Joshua Tree, who has been volunteering for four years.

For Hildebolt, providing a service for the national cemetery is a way to make a national contribution.

"It's a privilege," he said. "It's a very humbling experience that I'm very proud of."