desertvixen | Arlington National Cemetary (Reply)

In lieu of a Memorial Day post, I offer pictures from Arlington. (Visit was the week before Memorial Day)

The National Colors over Arlington.

Part of RFK's memorial in Arlington. A reminder that not all who serve the country do so in the military.

It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centres of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and injustice. - Robert F. Kennedy

In my opinion, not enough people were heeding this sign. While you're touring Arlington, how about refraining from cell phone conversations?

It's not exactly Flanders Field, but still a sight that should make people stop and think.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.

I did not go into the active part of the cemetery, partly because I don't want to think about the possibility that someday I'll be in there, and partly because I was getting very annoyed at all the rude people in the cemetery. Arlington is NOT a tourist attraction, or it should not be. It is an active cemetery where American servicemen and servicewomen are being laid to rest on a too-regular basis. Seriously, too many people on cell phone or otherwise being idiots.

They have a wonderful book in the giftshop there called Where Valor Rests. It shows a lot of what goes into Arlington, and has photos from recent services over an 18 month period. They are beautiful and moving.