Beyond the silver rainbow: Arlington National Cemetery

On Wednesday my wife and I went to visit Arlington National Cemetery. It is a military cemetery and located in Virginia, just two miles from the White House and North of the Pentagon. After collecting a map from the visitor center, we made our way through thousands of marble headstones. It was a special experience. The autumn sun, the cool temperature and trees without leaves created a perfect atmosphere.

After a short walk we came to the gravesite of John F. Kennedy. We were surprised to see that the site was kept very simple. A small area of laid stones surrounded an eternal flame and the engraved plates of JFK, his wife Jacqueline Onassis and their two children. As a small addition, a series of quotes were marked in stone a few meters away.

From there we went to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to witness the change of the guard. As we were walking back to the car, we noticed seven soldiers in uniform with rifles. A funeral was about to begin. An official came to us and said, no pictures of the coffin were allowed. We had a quick chat and learned that funerals are on four days a week, 5-6 each day.

Then horses pulled a carriage with a coffin covered by the US flag. The seven soldiers performed a three volley salute and a bugler was playing Taps. All was just like in the movies, or I should better say, the movie funerals are done just as the real ones.

During my flight from Vegas to Washington, I got to know an US attorney. We discussed many things and he told me how he never gets emotional except at the Arlington Cemetery. For me, the cemetery was a calm place full of history. The change of the guards was just an interesting thing to see, but the trumpet solo at the funeral was very moving.