The 26th Renewal & Remembrance will take place on July 18, 2022. This year’s volunteer event will be held at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) and at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall.
While Renewal & Remembrance has historically been held at Arlington National Cemetery, this marks the second year that NALP will have a second volunteer location on the National Mall.
This year’s service project with the National Mall will include volunteers creating landscape beds around the existing plants that surround the Lincoln Memorial. The outcome will be a more aesthetically pleasing and finished look to the grounds. Also, by creating proper beds, the shrubs will no longer compete with the turf for nutrients and water. This will improve the environment for the shrubs and encourage the health and vigor of those plants.
The location of this year’s volunteer project on the Mall is significant, as 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial, which honors President Abraham Lincoln.
There will be no limit to the number of volunteers at the Lincoln Memorial.
“We got to do great work last year at the grounds of the Washington Monument, this is just another epic opportunity,” says Bruce Allentuck, LIC, president of Allentuck Landscaping Co., based in Rockville, Maryland. “This (working at the Lincoln Memorial) is an incredible opportunity for our members and I would not take anything away from the work that we do at the cemetery because it’s just as amazing. I’m so happy we get to bring these experiences to our members and their families.”
At ANC, some of the volunteer projects include top dressing turf, renovating irrigation zones, installing lightning protection on designated trees and installing new plants.
“Participating in Renewal and Remembrance gives you a new perspective,” Allentuck says. “You see the people who sacrifice everything for what we stand for as a country. Arlington Cemetery is not there for us, Arlington Cemetery is there for their families and loved ones and we get to touch that and make a difference.”
The number of participants at ANC is limited and based on the need for each project.
The Children’s Program will also be brought back this year and will be available at both Arlington Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. Volunteers’ children under 12 will be invited to participate in activities specifically designed for them.
Allentuck says he’s over the moon about getting to bring the Children’s Program back this year.
“We get to introduce our next generation to not only the work we do but to these amazing places,” Allentuck says. “We’re creating memories and spreading values that will last a lifetime.”
Volunteers’ family members who are aged 13-17 are also welcome to join as volunteers at ANC or the Lincoln Memorial.
There is no fee to participate in Monday’s volunteer events. There is a $50 per person fee for the reception and dinner that will be held on July 17 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View hotel.
Register for Renewal & Remembrance here.
