One of my first assignments was to go to a museum or historical house and observe. I was assigned to Arlington National Cemetery, Robert E. Lee's house. After visiting the house, I was able to spend some time at the cemetery.
Since it is an active cemetery (meaning there are still burials going on), signs like this are posted everywhere. In fact, while I was there, I heard two, twenty-one gun salutes.
This is Robert E. Lee's home, also known as the Arlington House.
A sobering sight.
There are signs posted to help you figure out where to go...it is a really large cemetery.
Some of the Kennedy Graves.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The saddest sight of them all. This was the first wagon I encountered. The second one had a casket and I couldn't bring myself to take a picture.
However, there a was a moment that made me smile and cry at the same time. As I left the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a bus of WWII veterans pulled up and they started to get off. Most of them were in wheelchairs. The few that were walking were being supported by their escorts. At the same time, a large group of middle-schoolers arrived. Instead of rushing past these older men who sacrificed so much, they stopped and let them all pass. And then a voice called out "Thank you!" and then there were hands being offered to the veterans to shake, each accompanied by a heartfelt "Thank you!"
That sight of these young kids, so appreciative of what these men did, so long ago, really struck a chord. Many people today think that kids today are disrespectful and don't care about anything. Well, this experienced proved those critics wrong. These kids were wonderful and I found one of their teachers and whispered my thanks and asked her to pass it on to them.
This is going to be the first of many visits to this sacred ground.
No comments:
Post a Comment