On Friday at 1 p.m., outgoing Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Terrance W. Gainer will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.  

The wreath-laying ceremony is being hosted by Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, the commanding general for the Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, to honor the 38th Senate Sergeant-at-Arms and decorated Vietnam War veteran.  

During his tenure, Gainer served with the Special Envoy for Middle East Regional Security, which was created to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian dispute by assisting in strengthening security institutions.  

Gainer, a former Capitol Police chief, retires May 5, after more than 46 years of public service. The Illinois native’s law enforcement career spanned from the Chicago Police Department to director of the Illinois State Police, to Washington, D.C., where he became second in command of the Metropolitan Police Department, head of Capitol Police and finally his current position.  

Gainer will be replaced by his deputy of seven years, Drew Willison, next month.