Got the grand tour of Arlington National Cemetery thanks to Air Force Chaplain and NCCer, Charlie Stutts. Profound experience watching a committal service. For what it's worth, there are 28-32 committal services every day! The service we witnessed was for a World War II veteran who was at Pearl Harbor!
We saw parts of the cemetery we'd never seen on foot. Got to visit the barns (Fort Myers) where they keep the horses that pull the caissons. Took some pictures from the former home of Robert E. Lee. Best panoramic view of DC.
All headstones are now the same at Arlington. But prior to that policy they came in all shapes and sizes. I snapped a picture of what looks like a cannon but is actually a headstone.
We saw parts of the cemetery we'd never seen on foot. Got to visit the barns (Fort Myers) where they keep the horses that pull the caissons. Took some pictures from the former home of Robert E. Lee. Best panoramic view of DC.
All headstones are now the same at Arlington. But prior to that policy they came in all shapes and sizes. I snapped a picture of what looks like a cannon but is actually a headstone.
3 Comments:
Was just there 2 weeks ago. I really enjoy visiting that place. Puts things into a better perspective, I think. Sgt. Major of the Army, Kenneth Preston, showed us around Ft. Meyer as well. Very interesting. Also stopped by Ebenezer's but you were on the opposite coast, I think.
A very powerful place to be. If you ever get a chance, witness someone laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. I actually participated in the ceremony years ago as a Boy Scout. Very Powerful!
I used to be stationed at Ft. Myer as the chaplain assistant for The Old Guard (soldiers that do the funerals, tomb of the unknowns, caisson platoon, fife and drum corps, etc...). It was one of the coolest experiences. If you can ever arrange a tour, check out the tomb guard quarters underneath the the ampitheatre there at the tomb - very cool! Those guys are amazing.
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