Although I’ve had the pleasure of exploring Arlington National Cemetery on several occasions, I am still able to feel the sombreness of those ethereal grounds as I pass through the iron gates that tower over me.
As as the eye can see there are row upon row of tiny headstones stand watching, over the hills and rolling landscape. I urge everyone American to seek out an opportunity to visit the national monument of 110 acres dedicated to all who served and sacrificed in the name of freedom. It’s situated in Virginia and is located on the other side of the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.
More than 260,000 soldiers and civilians are burials at Arlington Some of them are famous, such as presidents John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft, five-star generals like Omar Bradley, and countless other soldiers, including more than five thousand of them anonymous.
When it comes to Memorial Day weekend, a small American flag is erected on the lawn at the front of every headstone to offer an blue, white, and red salute to every person that is buried there. Based on tour guides,, an average of 27 funerals are conducted each day on a daily basis “final goodbyes” to those who have fallen on the frontlines in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as to those who have served in World War II, the Korean conflict, Vietnam and the Cold War and their families.”
A trip to Arlington could not be enough without paying respects on Arlington’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The monument is a marble structure that sits on top of a hill near the Memorial Amphitheater. The sacred site was inaugurated to the public on Armistice Day, November 11 1921. It was the day that the initial Unknown Soldier, who died in World War I, was laid to rest.
In 1931, a piece of 50 tons of marble was turned into the capstone that we can see in the present. On the front there are three figures carved to represent Peace, Victory, and Valor as well as the words “Here Rests In Honoured Glory of an American Soldier, But Not to God.”
In 1958, an unidentified person from the Korean War and World War II was buried in the same location. The remains of a soldier who was killed in Vietnam was interred during a ceremony held in 1984. However, due to advancements in medical research, it was identified through DNA and was returned to his family. The crypt that was used for that of the Vietnam War Unknown remains empty.
Since 1948 an honor guard of the 3rd U.S. Infantry has been on duty for 24 hours with the utmost respect and precision. The sole soldier on duty walks back and forth across the 63-foot black mat that is in close proximity to the Tomb. He walks 21 strides across the mat. He then he turns to face the tomb for a period of 21 seconds. This is the most prestigious military honour – a 21-gun salute.
It is open to the public to view this sentry as well as the change of guard, that takes place every half hour to an hour, based on the season and any kind of weather conditions. This ceremony brings me back to Americans across all generations who’ve committed their lives to protect our freedom.
A trip to Arlington is a great way to remember those words spoken by Jesus, “Greater love hath never been shown to anyone than that a man give his life for his fellow man” (John 15:13, KJV). This always brings me back to Jesus the ultimate sacrifice to free humanity forever from the sins of this world.
Jan White has compiled a collection of her columns in her book “Everyday The Faithful Daily Life.”
The article Arlington National Cemetery shows the cost of freedom appeared in The Andalusia Star-News.
