Dillsboro brothers place wreath at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The Graver brothers attended a trip for Southeastern Indiana veterans

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Three brothers participated in a solemn ceremony while honoring their late father this past weekend. 

The Graver brothers are from Dillsboro and were among those who traveled to Washington, D.C. during an annual trip for Southeastern Indiana veterans. 

Rick, Mark and Chris Graver were given the opportunity to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday. 

Rick and Mark both graduated from Indiana University and went through the ROTC program before being commissioned as Second Lieutenant’s in the US Air Force. 

Chris did not serve in the military but has two sons who served in the Air Force. 

“It was an event of a lifetime. It was like an experience that combined both your faith and patriotism all into one,” said Rick Graver. 

The brothers were asked to participate in the wreath ceremony by trip organizer PG Gentrup, who is a Vietnam veteran and 2022 Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame member.

“It was quite the thrill just to be asked to represent Southeast Indiana veterans. I remember when P.G. asked about four months ago and I just couldn’t believe it, it was truly an honor and a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Mark said. 

The brothers couldn’t help but think of two family members while they participated in the ceremony. 

Their brother, Jeff, is also an IU ROTC graduate and served in the Air Force. He lives in Georgia and couldn’t make the trip. 

They also used the trip to honor their father. Dave Graver served in the US Navy from 1951 – 1955, assigned to the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, and flew on P2V Neptunes for anti-submarine warfare. He also served an overseas duty assignment at Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland. 

Following his military service, Dave owned and operated the Texaco gas station in Dillsboro until the mid-1980’s. 

Dave Graver passed away in 2010 from a battle with cancer. 

On Sunday, the brothers wore identical Navy VP-16 Patrol Squadron hats that honored their dad’s military service while also wearing vintage ‘Texaco’ t-shirts. 

“This was really a tribute to our Dad and we feel he was with us the entire trip. He gave us life, love, our faith in God and our responsibility to serve the country,” Mark said. 

During the trip, the brothers were joined by a Dillsboro high school classmate and close family friend, Larry Cochran, who was a Marine who served a tour in Vietnam. 

For all those involved, the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. was an honor that they will not soon forget. 

“PG Gentrup is quite the great American patriot here in Southeast Indiana, and the way he organized this trip for veterans was incredible,” Mark said. 

The veterans bus trip included a stop at the Flight 93 Memorial in Pennsylvania, along with Washington, D.C. stops at the Iwo Jima, Air Force, World War I, World War II, Korea, Lincoln, Vietnam memorials, White House, and the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

“There were close to 30 veterans on the bus and there were similar feelings and experiences we all shared during our military service. We certainly made several good, new friends on this trip,” he added. 

During the wreath ceremony, the three brothers were joined by East Central senior Quinn Burdette, who has attended the annual trip for several years. 

Here are some more photos provided by Denise Freitag-Burdette: