Arlington Cemetery July 9, 2016

It felt good to pack up the car this morning to move to a new location. Before leaving the DC area, we had to make one last stop. We hadn't been able to visit Arlington National Cemetery yet and we really wanted to. So, after checking out of our hotel and receiving a wonderful missing you card from our family. We braved the traffic and headed in our car to the cemetery. There is a special feeling about Arlington cemetery. It is truly hallowed ground. Here are a few pictures from the cemetery.

There are other kinds of headstones in this cemetery.  I didn't realize that.

We didn't realize it would be such a hike to get to tomb of the unknown soldier. It was, but it was so worth it.  We got there just as the changing of the guard was taking place, but we couldn't see anything.  After the crowd dispersed, we moved to the steps and were able to stand front and center.  The guard walks exactly 21 steps, turns and faces the tombs of the unknowns, stands for 21 seconds, turns again, changes his rifle to the shoulder away from the tombs, (representing standing between the tombs and anything else.  He stands for 21 seconds, and then takes 21 steps, turns to face the tombs, and stands for 21 seconds, turns, moves his rifle again, stands for 21 seconds and does it over again.  The 21 is representative of the 21 gun salute, which is the highest honor given to a soldier.  We stood and watched in the hot sun until the next changing of the guard.  In the summer they change every 1/2 hour.




We were just getting ready to leave and noticed that another ceremony was about to start.  There was a group at the top of the steps with a wreath.

This was the first wreath they placed at the tomb.  This was sitting in the visitors center when we arrived.  I asked Michael to take a picture so Alesha could see it.

They were about to change the wreath.  We had the best position to watch the change.  It was extremely touching and impressive.  They actually changed the wreath twice.  One group walked with the military leader down and changed the wreath.  Taps was played and then they did it again.  A family replaced the wreath this time.

Getting ready to change the wreath.

He took the wreath and laid it on the other side of the tomb.

The family who were preparing to hang their wreath.  The woman in the black top was visibly crying.  I am guessing it was in honor of her son, or father, or someone close to her.

The soldier is stepping forward to move the previous wreath to make the change. The Bugler is holding the wreath.

The ceremonies were touching and done with extreme care and ceremony.  Every one was asked to stand and to remain silent during all the ceremonies.  Unfortunately there were 3 or 4 different times the guard who was guarding the tomb stepped aside as he turned and demanded silence and respect.  I can't remember the exact phrase he used, but he had to remind people that this is a place that demands silence and respect.  This was very sad to me that people had to be reminded.

We walked back to the car and headed down the road.  We drove the route suggested by the gentleman in line with us to get tickets.  We went across U.S 50 and drove across the Bay Bridge that was our first toll road on the trip.  It spans Chesapeake Bay.  The next state we arrived at was Delaware and then New Jersey.  We stopped at a rest stop/Welcome center just over the state line.  While we were out walking around, we noticed the sky was getting quite dark.  I saw some lightning in the distance.  I walked a little ways away from the car to take a picture, and all of a sudden, we heard a crackle in the air and a bolt of lightning went across the sky right above us and immediate thunder.  We didn't waste any time getting in the car after that.  We didn't want to be hit by one of those things.  As we drove down the road, we ran into a rainstorm that was heavier than anything I have ever seen.  The cars were crawling along and everyone had their emergency blinkers on so they could be seen.  It only lasted 5-10 minutes, but was quite the storm.

We thought a lot about Michelle's time in New Jersey when she was a nanny.  We didn't realize that we had driven so close to Cranbury where she lived, and we missed seeing it.  We did drive through part of Princeton which is a place she enjoyed when she was here.

Tonight we are just outside of New York City.  In the morning we will be headed in to the city early to see the sights.