Bathed in the glow of a December sun, the GW College Republicans paid homage to America’s fallen soldiers Sunday at an Army wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

CR President Jared Hosid and executive board members Emily Cummins, Jennifer Thomson and Jason Osborn represented the organization as they laid a wreath of yellow roses on the marble gravesite. An Army bugler played “Taps” for the somber occasion.

“It’s important for people from our generation to have the opportunity to pay tribute to veterans,” Hosid said. “We’ve never had to serve in a war, and of course that is a good thing, but it has made it hard to relate to the bravery and courage of those men and women who did fight for our country.”

Hosid’s grandfather’s entire squad was killed in the Leyte massacre in the South Pacific during World War II, but he survived because he contracted pneumonia and was unable to fight in the battle.

Thomson, CR director of membership, also had a personal connection to the wreath-laying ceremony. Her grandfather, Keith Thomson, was buried at Arlington almost 40 years ago. After serving his country in battle, he went on to become a member of the House of Representatives. Thomson lays flowers at her grandfather’s grave several times a year.

“Laying the wreath has a lot of meaning for students whose family members fought in wars,” she said. “Any time students show that they care about what these people went through, it means that they respect the sacrifice that was made.”

The sentinels of the 3rd U.S. Infantry, which maintains a precision 24-hour guard of the tomb, oversaw the ceremonial wreath laying. The meticulous changing of the guard takes place every hour through the winter months.

Until recently, the tomb contained one soldier from both world wars, Korea and Vietnam, but DNA tests have revealed the identity of the soldier shot down over Vietnam as 1st Lt. Michael J. Blassie. His remains were interred at the memorial for 14 years, but have since been returned to his family and reburied in his hometown of St.Louis, Mo.

Osborn, a freshman representative for the CRs, organized the wreath laying, which has become a two-year tradition for the student group.

“Everyday should be Veteran’s Day,” he said. “It makes you realize how much people have given to their country. In commemorating the holiday like this, I hope we are setting a precedent not just for our organization, but for other organizations as well.”

Following the ceremony, which lasted only a few minutes, the 10 CR members in attendance toured the cemetery.