Staff members of the Association of the U.S. Army paid tribute to America’s fallen service members July 24 during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery.

The team laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which since 1921 has provided a final resting place for one of America’s unidentified World War I service members. Unknowns from later wars were added in 1958 and 1984, and the iconic memorial, guarded around the clock by sentinels from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), is a place of mourning and reflection.

During AUSA’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery, staff members met with soldiers who guard the tomb and heard from Karen Halverson and Angel Mangum, two AUSA family fellows, about the mission of the Arlington Ladies, volunteers who attend funeral services at the cemetery to ensure no service member is buried alone.

The AUSA team also visited the graves of Maj. Audie Murphy, the World War II hero who was one of the nation’s most-decorated soldiers, and General of the Army George Marshall, a former Army chief of staff who also served as secretary of state, secretary of defense and U.S. special envoy to China. AUSA’s highest award is named for Marshall.

Upon returning to AUSA headquarters, staff members heard from Jill Stephenson about her son, Cpl. Benjamin Kopp. The 21-year-old died July 18, 2009, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, eight days after he was wounded while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

“I have a great sense of pride in the man he became,” Stephenson said, as she described how her son knew from a young age that he was going to become a soldier. Joining the military was “ingrained in his soul,” she said. “I do my best to share his story and be a servant, like he was.”

Hearing from Stephenson, spending time with soldiers and visiting Arlington cemetery are important reminders of those who sacrifice and serve, said retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO. “Just letting you see the incredible soldiers and [to] pause and think of what sacrifice folks have gone through [is] important,” Brown said.

The day’s events also reinforced AUSA’s work to support the Army, he said. “What we do is incredibly important, … the better we do our job supporting the Army, the less likely we are to go to war,” he said.