Some of America’s most cherished burial sites are
found in the 624 acres of the nation’s best-known military cemetery. The
rolling lawns filled with white tombstones, the Tomb of the Unknowns,
and the grave of John F Kennedy are conspicuous symbols of sacrifices
made for freedom. The flags fly at half-staff from before the first and
after the last of about 27 funerals per day, as the graves of veterans
continue to multiply. Nearly four million people visit the cemetery
every year, some attracted by the historical importance of the site,
many wishing to honor those who have died in the nation’s wars, others
taking part in the funeral of a friend or family member. The cemetery
visitors’ center provides maps, personalized information, and guidance.
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Robert E Lee was living
in Arlington House in 1861 when tensions between the Union and the
southern states reached a crisis. When Virginia joined the Confederacy
and seceded from the Union, Lee became a general of Virginia’s military
forces. Union troops then crossed the Potomac and took possession of
Arlington House. In 1864, Arlington National Cemetery was established to
cope with the mass deaths of the Civil War.
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Plan of Arlington National Cemetery
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Covering the cemetery on
foot requires walking long distances. The most convenient way to get to
the cemetery is to take the Tourmobile from any of its 25 stops . They offer a cemetery-only tour that provides transportation through the cemetery along with commentary and interpretation.
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Top 10 FeaturesLawns of Graves Approximately
350,000 people are buried on these grounds, marked by unadorned
graves, arranged in regular grids, spread across the lawns. Although
only a small percentage of America’s war dead lie here, the expanse
gives a tangible picture of the human cost of war.
Tomb of the Unknowns This
solemn monument is guarded 24 hours a day by The Old Guard. Unknown
soldiers of World Wars I and II and the Korean War are entombed here. A
Vietnam soldier was interred here, but he was later identified.
Memorial Amphitheater The setting for the Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies. Arlington House This impressive mansion was conceived as a memorial to George Washington, built by his step-grandson.
Arlington House
Confederate Memorial Although
the cemetery is popularly thought to be only for Union soldiers, 482
Confederate soldiers are buried here as well, in circular rows around a
central memorial.
Grave of John F. Kennedy The
eternal flame was lit by Jacqueline Kennedy on the day of the
assassinated president’s funeral. In 1994 she was buried beside him.
Tomb of Pierre L’Enfant Honoring the designer of the city grid of Washington , L’Enfant’s monument shows the plan of the city within a circle.
Seabees Memorial A
bronze construction worker pauses to make friends with a young child.
The Seabees – so called from the initials of their name, the
Construction Battalion (CB) – performed daring feats in building the
military bases needed to win World War II. Shuttle Memorials This memorial honors the astronauts who died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986. A memorial to the 2003 Columbia space shuttle tragedy is nearby. Rough Riders Memorial This
dark granite memorial displays the insignia of the First US Volunteer
Cavalry (the “Rough Riders”) and the battles they took part in during
the Spanish-American War.
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