"Memorial Day and Arlington National Cemetery" - Time Out #90

As the calendar rolls onward, definite human time has to set aside to create special moments, or those moments will be lost forever.

A few months ago, I had an epiphany.

I am so glad I did.

While deeply contemplating our next trip, I told bride, Debbie, "I really would like to go back to the Washington, D.C., area and see my family and friends who live there". I convinced her none of us were getting younger as Father Time raced forward. Not to discount, going there would provide another excellent reason to fly out of Stillwater (SWO), and we would benefit with the sheer ease of making airline connections to our nation's capital. Because the Tidal Basin cherry blossoms were in bloom also sweetened the traveling opportunity, so the trip was booked with American Airlines to Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). The truth is we hadn't been to this wonderful part of America in several years even though it ranks right up there with New York City and San Diego at the top of our list. In fact, it might even be the overall winner?

Because the 5-day adventure was full of excitement during this recent beautiful weather time there in late March, I will probably attempt to re-visit it with you, my loyal Our Town readers, with an additional installment later. Not sure exactly when that will be, but probably in the near future.

The principal reason for today's discussion is simple; Memorial Day and Arlington National Cemetery.

The Friday afternoon we arrived, we checked into our hotel, not too far from DCA, in a section of Arlington, Virginia, labeled Crystal City. We chose this location due it's proximity to the airport, Metro subway, and restaurants. We met close friends that first evening at one of our favorite nearby steak houses that overlooks the planes taking off and landing at DCA. This outstanding dining venue is located on the 11th floor of a building right next to the airport, and we knew it well, since we had dined there several years before. Prior to leaving for dinner, however, I telephone my older brother, C.H., in nearby Rockville, Maryland, and told him we had arrived safely from Our Town. I told him I would like to spend some one-on-one time with him the next day. He agreed, and suggested meeting up in the visitor center of Arlington National Cemetery (ANC), not far from our hotel. He planned to ride Metro from his suburban home to meet me, and I would take the same transportation mode to meet him. We would spend most of the day on location there, then travel together to Gaithersburg, MD, to attend a surprise 50th birthday party for his youngest son (my nephew).

We had an absolutely incredible brother-brother bonding time the next day!

As luck would have it, the Saturday we spent together just happened to be a once-per-year recognition event at ANC, Metal of Honor Day.

The large visitor center was full with lots of spring break folks, and while we were inside looking over a few of the exhibits, I noticed in their large meeting room there was going to be a presentation by cemetery historians about Metal of Honor winners. To condense our experience with this happenstance situation, we heard a masterful power point presentation about these American heroes, followed by a motorized trolley audio tour through the vast cemetery, guided by the historians. We made several stops at appropriate graves since around 400 of these recipients out of roughly 3,600 total are buried at ANC. Our final trolley stop was at the large amphitheater just west of the Tomb of the Unknowns. Here we took a tour though a small museum, then walked outside on this spectacular spring day and witnessed the historic changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. I whispered to my brother, as we were part of the large crowd gathered that hour for this hallowed event, this experience always gives me American goose bumps each time I have been fortunate over the years to see it in person. After this very emotionally moving ceremony was completed, we walked the short distance downhill directly in front of the Tomb to cemetery section #7.

My brother knows this area well, since having a home not too far away, he has visited it often over the years. With the sea of government white headstones almost as far as the human eye can see, I thought his ability to walk to the correct location was very special to me.

Before I realized it, we were standing directly in front of our parents' graves, complete with their shining white stone upright markers, our mother dying in 1951 and our father in 1984. Her headstone is showing the signs of Mother Nature after 66 years, his not so much after 33 years. To know they were laid to rest side by side in one of the most beautiful, hallowed places I have ever visited provides me inner peace. I asked my brother to say a few words, which he gracefully did, then we slowly walked back to the visitor center and public front entrance of this magnificent American icon, Arlington National Cemetery.

If you ever find yourself in this area of the world visiting our nation's capital, certainly find time to tour this priceless place.

You'll be glad you did.