Arlington National Cemetery 13 June 08

Visitor's center. Arlington National Cemetery is about 3 miles southeast of Washington D.C. You're not subject to search when going thru the front doors of the visitors center headed for the rear doors to the cemetery, and that seemed strange after the entering procedure at the federal buildings in D.C.

Grave markers literally as far as the eye could see, all aligned in every direction with military precision.

The "Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers" is in front of the two unkown ladies sitting on the steps. Guards' shoe soles created the black line you see, and the line's not very wide.

"The sentinel marches 21 steps across the walk, past the final resting places of the Unknown Soldiers of World War I, World War II, Korea, and the crypt of the Unknown Soldier of the Vietnam War.

With a crisp turn, the sentinel turns 90 degrees to face east for 21 seconds.

The sentinel then turns a sharp 90 degrees again to face north for 21 seconds.

A crisp "shoulder-arms" movement places the rifle on the shoulder nearest the visitors to signify that the sentinel stands between the tomb and any threat.

After a moment, the sentinel paces 21 steps north, turns and repeats the process.

The practiced cadence is timed so that the sentinel paces at a rate of 90 steps each minute."

The "Changing of the Guard" ceremony happens every half hour. The ranking officer first addresses the audience sitting on the steps, telling them that due to the sacred nature of the guard changing ceremony, everyone must be quiet. He also said; "And you will STAND". One half second later, all the sitters became standers. It's hard not to get tearful during the ceremony as you reflect upon the lost soldiers' lives that are unknown to us, and witness the seriousness, precision, and pride, the soldiers exhibit during the ceremony. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqZ-mkdp1H0 This is not our video and it doesn't show the entire ceremony, but it demonstrates the precision expected and given.

At the end of the ceremony the officer announced that Arlington Cemetery was closing and upon closing, the tomb becomes a restricted military post. The tomb is guarded 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

In addition to the many soldiers graves, are the graves of two presidents, many senators and other leaders, as well as the graves of Joe Luis (a famous boxer), Robert Peary (an explorer), Medgar Evers (civil rights activist), Glenn Miller (band leader), and other famous persons. There are also the bodies of 3800 fugitive and liberated slaves.

Arriving after our day at Gettysburg didn't give us much time at Arlington. We took the arrow on the right. Closing time kept us from seeing president Kennedy's grave site.

I was impress by the beauty of the gates, which also symbolizes the closing of our Washington D.C. adventures.