Originally published between 2011 and 2014, this post has been updated but preserves its original publish date as content is migrated from the archives of The Flavored Word.
On Monday, I asked my son if he knew what day it was … he tilted his head, squinted his eyes, lifted his finger to his chin and tapped away like he was seriously considering some life altering decision. And then,
“Library day!” He replied.
Ah, yes. I thought. Library day … I smiled, rubbed his head and to myself said,
“Thank you. Thank you veterans. Thank you soldiers, sailors and airmen. Thank you everyone who has helped make this country a place where my five-year-old can have library day.”
Later that afternoon my twelve-year-old asked me about Arlington; apparently showed a film clip at school. I told her what I knew … and then I spent the next two hours reading because I realized I did not know enough to answer even my most pressing questions. Like who is there? Who can be there? How many people are there … and who is buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier? Here’s the basics of what struck me … forewarning, I did my best not to turn this into something that would sound like a high school report, but it wasn’t easy, not when you consider how much there is to learn about this sacred place.
THE NUMBERS
- 25-30 funerals take place each and every day, or just under 7,000 a year
- 65 victims of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center are buried
- 72 tons; $48,000; 1932 … the weight, the cost, and year Tomb was commissioned
Which BTW is the final resting place for a soldier from WWI, WWII, The Korean War, and up until 1998, from Vietnam, First Lieutenant Michael Blassie of the United States Air Force; once his remains were identified they were returned to his family and the space that once held his remains is still empty.
- 624 acres of land
- 1864, the year the U.S. government confiscated the land from Robert E. Lee’s family
- April 6, 1948, the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard,” took over the perpetual guarding of the Tomb of the Unknowns
- 2007, the year the pentacle was allowed to be shown on headstones
- 3,800 former slaves are buried under the heading “civilian”
- 300,000 interments at Arlington
I have never been to Arlington. But when I see pictures of the thousands upon thousands of white crosses, I am moved by emotions I cannot explain. And I for one am thankful for the country that I live in and for all the sacrifices that were made and are being made so my son can have a library day.
And to ditto Justin Timberlake’s tweet after his experience at the Marine Corps Ball, “Tell them thank you – and next time you’re in a bar next to a soldier, buy them a beer.”
Cover image from Pexels’ free library.
DISCLAIMER: I’m a writer and an editor. And I try my best to make sure every post is articulate and free from errors. However, being that I edit my own work—and it’s next to impossible to properly edit your own work—I admit, occasionally there may be an error or two I miss. But doing so doesn’t make me an idiot so don’t be mean. Just smile, pat yourself on the back for finding an error and be glad you’re not the only one who makes mistakes sometimes … xoxox
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