2 Oct 2018
Another must-see
sight in the DC area is Arlington National Cemetery. It is a very special place that was created
at the end of the Civil War, when the land was purchased by the federal
government. But there is more to that
story that includes several well-known Americans. A short version of that story
can be read here. At the time of the purchase,
there were already over 6000 Union Soldiers buried on the property.
The cemetery
is a place of history, service to country, tragedy and heroes. I first visited the cemetery when I was a
young farm boy from New York, and it made an immense impression on me. While at Coast Guard Headquarters, I was
there twice as the Coast Guard representative for funerals of a retired member
and for the spouse of an active duty member.
The handling of these funerals was a very professional and caring process. I was able to see first hand the work of the
Ladies of Arlington as they insured that family members of the deceased were
attended too. I am sure that both the
history of the place and the service provided to those being laid to rest here
is why the demand is so high and why space is running out.
On this
visit, we chose to take the guided tour which saved a lot of walking and we
certainly saw more of the grounds that we could have on foot. In addition, the guide provided a narrative
of what we were looking at as we moved along.
You are free to leave the tour at any point. If you spend any time on the grounds, you are
almost certain to see a service in progress.
Just outside
of the gated cemetery grounds are several monuments and a bell tower given to
the United States by the Netherlands.
The first is
the Marine Corps monument which lists many of the actions the Marine Corps was
involved in.
Nearby is a Monument
to the USCG Cutter Tampa which was sunk with all hands while on convey duty in
the Atlantic in 1918. 131 lives were
lost.
The Carillion
Tower was given to the United States by the Netherlands on 5 May 1960
in gratitude for the
liberation from Nazi Germany and the American aid received after the war.
3 comments:
I think I've been there a zillion times, but you showed me some sites that i haven't seen! Also having done genealogy for years, I learned to love visiting cemeteries for the sense of peace, and Arlington will always be the standout in our nation.
We've been there many times but never took a tour. If we ever go again we surely would as at this age, the walking can be tiring. I am assuming it is on a bus?
The changing of the guard is so impressive.
Truly America's most hallowed ground.
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