JBSA commander honors LBJ during wreath laying ceremony Aug. 27

Each year on Aug. 27, a wreath laying ceremony, which is open to the public, takes place at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park at the gravesite of former President Lyndon B. Johnson to observe his birthday and contributions to the nation.

Sponsored by the National Park Service, this year’s event honored what would have been the 107th birthday of the only U.S. president born and raised in Texas.

“It is a distinct honor to be standing here in uniform and to represent the more than 82,000 members of Joint Base San Antonio,” Brig. Gen. Bob LaBrutta, 502nd Air Base Wing and JBSA commander, said. “Today we remember not only LBJ’s birth, but we celebrate his life and his lasting contributions to our country.”

During his time as the 36th President of the United States, President Johnson designed the “Great Society”, a set of domestic political programs set up in 1964 to eradicate poverty and racial inequality.

LaBrutta stressed the importance of the movement President Johnson continually worked toward and the positive impact it has had on the American people.

“LBJ served as a member of the U.S. Navy, as a congressman, senator, vice president and president,” LaBrutta said. “While serving in these capacities, he successfully pushed through scores of bills focused on the people, such as urban renewal, education, social programs, civil rights, voting rights and taking care of military members and their families. All of these bills made our country better and stronger.”

During the ceremony, a section of a speech by President Johnson called the ‘American Promise’ was played where he spoke on the changes he had hoped to make during his time in office. These changes included better education for children, helping the poor become self-reliant, protecting the voting rights of all U.S. citizens, ending racial tension and environmental beautification and conservation.

“I would venture to say there isn’t a day that goes by where we don’t benefit in some fashion from LBJ’s accomplishments,” Frank Wolff, former Whitehouse photographer, said.

Policies passed while Johnson served in office laid the framework for important aspects of modern society including diversity in the work force and voting booths, social security programs and improved education.