Some of the most meaningful traditions begin with the simplest acts of kindness. For RosAmungThorns Flowers & Gifts, what began as a small request from a friend 12 years ago has grown into a tradition rooted in love, gratitude, and a deep respect for the men and women who have served our country.
Recently, I had the profound honor of creating a wreath for Honor Flight of the Ozarks for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. But this wreath was about so much more than flowers. It was about friendship, remembrance, sacrifice, and the American heroes whose service and courage deserve to be honored, remembered, and never forgotten.
I could not imagine sharing this moment without my best friend, Amy Smith, by my side.
A Tradition That Began With One Veteran and One Rose
In 2014, Amy prepared to accompany her father, Ed Smith, on an Honor Flight of the Ozarks trip to Washington, D.C. I had just opened RosAmungThorns when Amy called me the night before the flight. She asked if I could put together a little something, perhaps a carnation, for her dad.
Of course, I told her I would love to.
But the next morning, as I thought about Ed and the sacrifices he and so many others had made in service to our country, something didn’t feel quite right about sending him off with just a carnation. These men and women had given so much. I wanted to give them something that reflected even a small part of the gratitude they deserved.
He deserved a rose.
As the morning went on, I reached out and learned that Honor Flight of the Ozarks would be taking 81 American heroes to Washington, D.C. I asked if I could provide a rose for every veteran on that flight. They agreed, and I ordered 100 roses.
I took those roses to the airport and was fortunate enough to be first in line to hand them to the veterans as they stepped off the plane.
I had no idea that one simple decision would become a tradition lasting 12 years.
Twelve Years of Roses, Given With Gratitude
Since that first flight, RosAmungThorns has continued donating 100 roses for each of three Honor Flight trips annually. Those roses are shared with the veterans returning home, the medical staff who care for them throughout their journey, and other veterans we may spot in the crowd proudly wearing their veteran caps.
Every rose is a small token of appreciation for a sacrifice that can never truly be repaid.
The roses aren’t about our flower shop. They aren’t about recognition or attention. They are simply our way of saying, We see you. We appreciate you. And we will never forget what you have done for us.
Amy was the person who started it all. Her love for her father inspired a tradition that has allowed us to share thousands of roses with the people who helped protect the freedoms we enjoy today.
A Wreath for the Unknown, With Love for Those We Remember
When the opportunity came to create a wreath for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, I knew there was one person I wanted beside me: Amy.
As the owner of RosAmungThorns, I had the privilege of designing and creating the wreath, with Amy’s help and heart woven into the process. Together, we brought something meaningful to a place that represents the ultimate sacrifice of American service members whose identities remain unknown.
I wanted Amy to have the opportunity to pour her love for America’s heroes into this wreath, in remembrance of her father, Ed, and in honor of all the veterans whose stories we know, the families who carry their memories, and the fallen service members who never made it home.
At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, we are reminded that not every hero has a name we can speak. Not every family received the answers or the homecoming they prayed for. Yet each one mattered. Each one had a life, a family, a story, and a place in the history of our nation.
The Heart Behind the Flowers
Flowers cannot undo the pain of loss. They cannot fully express the gratitude owed to our veterans, nor can they measure the sacrifice made by those who never returned home.
But flowers can be a symbol. A rose can say thank you when words fall short. A wreath can represent remembrance when a nation pauses to honor its fallen. And a simple act of kindness can grow into something that touches far more lives than we ever imagined.
For me, this journey has never been about the number of roses donated or the recognition that might come from giving them. It has always been about the people receiving them.
It began with Ed Smith. It grew because of Amy’s love for her father. And for 12 years, it has continued because every veteran deserves to know that their service matters.
Amy was unable to make the flight, and neither of us was able to place the wreath. Instead, veterans from Honor Flight of the Ozarks placed it yesterday.
To Amy, thank you for making that first phone call all those years ago. Thank you for your friendship, your heart, and your unwavering love for our veterans. I am grateful for all you have done to help make this tradition possible.
To Ed Smith and every veteran who has served our country, thank you.
And to the families who have waited, worried, sacrificed, and sometimes grieved without the comfort of knowing where their loved ones rest, we remember you, too.
May we never take our freedom for granted. May we never forget the sacrifices that made it possible. And may we always find ways, big or small, to honor those who gave so much.
One rose at a time. One flight at a time. One wreath in remembrance. Always with gratitude.
With love and appreciation,
Theresa Suda
Owner, RosAmungThorns Flowers & Gifts
Springfield, Missouri
Pictured: Theresa Suda and Best Friend Amy Smith