Memorial Day … while getting ready for the week ahead, I asked my son if he knew what day tomorrow 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. Library day … I smiled and thought,
“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.”
This is a post has been updated from The Flavored Word archives, published between 2011 and 2014.
When I wrote this post, I had never been to Arlington. But I have now been twice. And seeing the thousands upon thousands of white crosses—in person, in a photo, on TV … moves me to an extent I cannot explain. But, I can say that while it’s a simple liberty among so many, I am thankful for the country I live in and for all the sacrifices that were made and are being made so my son could have a library day. Simple, like I said.
“The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.” – James Madison
- 25-30 funerals take place each and every day at Arlington
- More than 400,000 are laid to rest at Arlington including 3,800 former slaves under the heading “civilian”
- Arlington became a national cemetery on June 15, 1864
- The Tomb of the Unknown was dedicated on November 11, 1921, with the burial of an unknown from World War I.
- In 1958, unknowns from World War II and the Korean War were added to crypts in front of the tomb.
- In 1984, the remains for a Vietnam unknown were placed in the tomb but in 1998 a DNA analysis identified him as U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Michael J. Blassie and he was disinterred and reburied at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Missouri.
- The empty crypt now honors all missing and unknown Americans who served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War era.
- April 6, 1948, the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard,” took over the perpetual 24-hour guarding of the Tomb of the Unknowns
- The tomb guard takes 21 steps, turns east for 21 seconds, turns and faces north for 21 seconds, then marches 21 times behind the tomb again, turns and repeats the process.
- On the Thursday before Memorial Day, roughly 1,500 The Old Guard soldiers place an American flag at every headstone, along every columbarium row, positioned exactly one boot length from the headstone—all placed in under four hours.
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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