Sisters Dianne Schildt and Carol Moleskie held hands during the funeral service for their parents on March 19, 2025. Their father, U.S. Navy Construction Mechanic (Diesel) Petty Officer 2nd Class Leonard A. Moleskie, had been married to their mother, Helene “Dolly,” for almost 60 years until her passing in 2013.
During the service, both sisters dabbed tears as a Navy honor guard folded an American flag over their parents’ urns, a rifle team fired three volleys and a bugler sounded Taps.
As family members drove to the columbarium in Section 79, cemetery maintenance workers removed their hard hats as the caravan passed. “I thought that was as respectful as the honor guard itself,” said Carol’s husband, Ron Schlundt.
The sisters spoke fondly of their father’s service as a Navy Seabee (Construction Battalion) during the Korean War, when he was stationed on the Pacific Island of Guam. “He had a pet monkey that lived with the guys in the barracks,” Dianne said. She remembered him talking about times on a ship “when the weather got rough, the water was so high you could put your hands out and touch the waves.”
Carol’s husband Ron, who shared his father-in-law's love of Arlington National Cemetery, made sure both Leonard and Helene were buried here. “I thought, what better way to honor him and Dolly both,” he said, “and Dolly was the backbone of the house.”
After a sailor presented Dianne with the tightly folded flag, she addressed her family. Turning to Carol, she said, “I want you to have this,” as she handed her sister the flag. She later explained that her sister, “went out of her way on so many occasions to see that [their parents] had what they needed.” For what Carol had done for their parents, Dianne decided she deserved the flag.