July, I think, is our most patriotic month. Maybe it’s the explosion of fireworks on the fourth day, or that all of America turns red, white and blue, or that last weekend my husband and I were lucky enough to see Tiger Woods honor military veterans throughout the week as he played and won the AT&T National golf tournament. In any case, there’s something about July that makes me want to wave our flag.
Or maybe veterans are on my mind because we biked around the National World War II Memorial, with its imposing columns and rejuvenating fountains, last weekend. No, I’ve been thinking about veterans ever since we attended a funeral at Arlington Cemetery with full military honors last month.
Arlington Cemetery has its own sacredness that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. There’s a simplicity to the acres of green grass and small, white marble headstones that creates a zen-like tranquility that reinforces the “resting place” intention of a cemetery.
I had no idea how big Arlington Cemetery was until we drove, then walked, behind the caisson. As the horses slowly pulled the horse-drawn, flag-draped coffin through the winding paths of Arlington, it reminded me of that famous photograph of John-John Kennedy, wearing his peacoat and baby shoes, saluting his daddy’s coffin almost 50 years ago. This time, though, no onlookers lined the road. Instead, thousands of silent headstones stood at attention, honoring their newest member. Most headstones bore only the service member’s name and dates of birth and death. Some of these veterans never made it to age 20. Some lived to a ripe old age and their headstones named a wife or two or three.
During the ceremony we stood rigidly, not daring to wipe sweat or shift feet as the young military chaplain attempted to comfort us. As the rifles blasted their 21-gun salute, the bugle player played his lonely “Taps” and the burial flag was crisply folded and presented to the new widow, I looked across at those thousands of headstones, little Casper the Friendly Ghosts, standing sentinel and silently welcoming their newest member to their eternal club. And for every headstone I saw a mother, a wife, a father or a son, grief-stricken by their loss but proud of the life served.
If you’ve never visited Arlington Cemetery, I hope you add it to your must-see list the next time you’re in Washington, D.C. All funerals are heartbreaking but if you ever have the honor of attending a military funeral, please do so. And if you don’t, I hope you honor and thank our country’s veterans. They gave back.
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Jane – your column this month brought back memories of my return trip from Peru in 2007. I had boarded the plane at JFK to return to Columbus and after a bit of a delay, the Pilot announced that there was a serviceman in First Class that was escorting a fallen solder home to his family. I can remember so well hard hard that hit me and that it made me personally face the reality of the war in Iraq. I thought about it quite a bit (all the time with a lump in my throat) on the flight to OH. Before landing, the pilot made another announcement and ask that we remain on the plane for a few minutes until the serviceman could get off and into place. I was so drawn to the reality of event,… especially since I could see the hearse sitting not far from my window and the small group of family members that had come to meet their son and husband. I could not leave the window of the plane until everyone else was off. I felt it was my duty to understand the reality of the situation and to pay respects to the solder and his family so I sat and prayed and wept for them as I watched them remove the casket from the plane and load it into the hearse that was waiting. It made me realize how easily we get wrapped up in our own lives and tend to forget what many others are going through and the reality of war itself. I know it was a very small gesture but somehow I could not live with myself if i simply grabbed my carryon and proceeded to baggage claim without a giving it another thought. Thanks for your article and reminding me again to take a few minutes to appreciate what I have and acknowledge those who have made such a sacrifice.
Jane, your motyher is a drea chum of mine since we were in high school and shes sends me your work. I love the 4th of July one , have been to Arlington , am always moved , always. I went to Hawaii years ago and one of the sights I wanted to see was Punchbowl Cemetery , called the graveyard of the Pacific where so many of the fallen from WW2 in the pacific were buried. It is a holy place as well and while many families wanted their loved ones home nearer I thought it was a very fitting place to rest. Thank you and all military for sacrifices you make on our behalf. Your mom is more than proid of you, too thanks for sharing all you do
Peggy
cool tips, will try it now
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