ARLINGTON — “It’s a big honor and a big deal,” said David Delancy, sergeant-at-arms of Arlington American Legion Post 76. “Little Arlington is paying a visit to big Arlington.”

David and his wife, Dorine Delancy, have received approval to lay a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Aug. 30.

David’s father was stationed in Washington, D.C. when he was younger, so he’s seen the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but this will be Dorine’s first trip to the East Coast.

She asked her father-in-law how she might go about laying a wreath at the tomb, since he’s worked for the Pentagon, and he directed her to a website where she was asked to fill out an application form with her name, address, phone number and 1,000 characters about why her application should be granted.

“I used every one of those thousand characters,” Dorine laughed. “I let them know that David has commanded our Legion Color Guard at funerals, and I’ve walked for the widows during our Memorial Day parades.”

Dorine submitted her application on July 30, and was contacted on Aug. 7.

“They wanted to know what type of wreath I would be laying,” Dorine said. “It’s heart-shaped and made out of red paper poppies.”

Dorine will be joined in laying the wreath not only by her husband, but also by the officer standing guard as he’s relieved of his watch.

“I don’t know if they’ll let us bring the wreath back, after we’ve laid it at the tomb,” Dorine said. “We’ll be bringing back plenty of pictures and video in any case.”

“This is normally something only dignitaries get to do,” David said.

Dorine agreed, “It wasn’t on my bucket list before, but I can definitely check it off now.”

After the Delancys return from the nation’s capitol, they’ll be able to take part in the local Legion post’s POW/MIA ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 18.

Vietnam veteran Marty Cress explained that, while the POW/MIA table is a stand feature of Memorial and Veterans days’ ceremonies in the Arlington Legion lounge, he wanted to offer the public a more elaborate and informative ceremony.

“The public is more than welcome,” Cress said. “We’ll be laying out the table from scratch as we speak, explaining the significance of each part of its setting. It won’t just be the Legion, either. The Sons of the Legion and the Auxiliary will be taking part as well.”

After the ceremony, attendees are invited to join the Legion for a Hawaiian-themed dinner at 114 N. Olympic Ave.