This post takes you back to a family trip we took in late 2018. Waiting patiently at Arlington National Cemetery was my wife's grandpa. He was to be joined by his beloved wife who had recently passed away.
Burial at Arlington National Cemetery is reserved for those who served the USA with the highest honors. In particlular, many war heroes fill its grounds.
My wife's grandpa was one such man. After the war, he wrote a book about his experiences in the Japanese POW camps. He was a man who cared for his fellow soldiers, bringing resources and hope as best he could.
After surviving the Baaton Death March, he was nursed back to health by the lady that would soon become his wife. We spent the first day of our trip at Arlington to pay our respects. Watching the Old Guard present the military ceremony and a full 21 gun salute was awesome, to say the least.
In attendance was my wife's father and his wife, my wife's sister and her family as well as our entire family. I didn't catch any photos during the actual funeral out of absolute respect. We were brought to grandpa Morris's resting place the day before while doing a test run.
John Is A Retired Army Kernel Who Served In The Old Guard
John is my wife's father. He helped fund most of our trip and put us up on base in Virginia. Because John served in the Old Guard for 4 years at Arlington National Cemetery, we had special privileges to view the entire grounds.
Not many people get to slowly drive their own car through Arlington, stopping wherever they want for photo opportunities. Some of these pics may be a point of political discontent within this awesome country, but they represent people who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of it.
A powerful image indeed for those who grew up in the USA. At the top of the hill is the house of General Robert E. Lee. Below it and in the forefront is the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame.
Far back in the older areas of Arlington lay scores of personal tombstones. Each one has an inscription of some sort in remembrance of the fallen.
We ended our visit to Arlington at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Though they had a member of the Old Guard explaining the memorial in detail, we had our own personal tour guide in John.
This memorial honors the remains of three unknown soldiers from different wars. It's a symbol of deep respect for all the unnamed soldiers who never returned from war or were ever heard from again.
It was a somber day to kick off our trip, though we enjoyed spending time together. We visited other memorials, museums, and restaurants on other days of the trip, but I'll save those pics for a follow up post. Some of those memorials have taken a beating from what I hear.
Hope you enjoyed and....
Happy Hiveing!!!
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