{"id":2657,"date":"2015-07-29T22:48:27","date_gmt":"2015-07-29T19:48:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dknolte.com\/?p=2657"},"modified":"2015-10-01T21:45:42","modified_gmt":"2015-10-01T18:45:42","slug":"they-seemed-to-go-on-forever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dknolte.com\/?p=2657","title":{"rendered":"They Seemed to Go on Forever"},"content":{"rendered":"

F<\/strong>or some strange reason, I have an attraction to cemeteries and have often wondered why?\u00a0 I can only suggest it is the obsession I have with the lives of people in the past and the heroes of this world.\u00a0 When I recently had the gracious opportunity to visit Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC, it was an overload.\u00a0 As I walked viewing the markers and reading the names of those buried there, I felt mute and stunned.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t until I returned to Turkey and had a chance to download the images, did the tears start to flow.<\/p>\n

The Numbers<\/strong><\/p>\n

In looking at the rolls of grave markers that seemed to go on to infinity, I guessed there were probably 10,000 graves.\u00a0 I was not correct.\u00a0 On the web I found there are over 400,000.\u00a0 This stunned me!<\/p>\n

\"IMG_2968\"<\/a>I also thought the cemetery had only a few heroes interned each year and was shocked to find there are 3-4 a day!\u00a0 Below are images I took of a parade as it passed by.\u00a0 At first I did not know what was going on, until I saw the horse drawn carriage roll by.\u00a0 It was then I realized I was witnessing a funeral procession and I backed away behind trees with my camera to keep from dishonoring its solemnity.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_2881\"<\/a>\"IMG_2883\"<\/a>\"IMG_2886\"<\/a>The Unknown:\u00a0 … known but to God<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier that is guarded by the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, day, night, sun, storm and snow.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_2906\"<\/a>This is such an incredible sight; I stood and watched several minutes before I realized I need to take a few pictures of it.\u00a0 Below is the process described in Wikipedia:<\/p>\n

The Tomb of the Unknowns has been perpetually guarded since July 2, 1937, by the U.S. Army. The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (“The Old Guard”) began guarding the Tomb on April 6, 1948. There is a meticulous routine which the guard follows when watching over the graves. The Tomb Guard:<\/em><\/p>\n

Marches 21 steps down the black mat behind the Tomb.<\/em><\/p>\n

Turns, faces east for 21 seconds.<\/em><\/p>\n

Turns and faces north for 21 seconds.<\/em><\/p>\n

Takes 21 steps down the mat.<\/em><\/p>\n

Repeats the routine until the soldier is relieved of duty at the \u201cChanging of the Guard\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

After each turn, the Guard executes a sharp “shoulder-arms” movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors to signify that the Guard stands between the Tomb and any possible threat.<\/em><\/p>\n

Twenty-one was chosen because it symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed\u2014the 21-gun salute.<\/em><\/p>\n

Each turn the guard makes precise movements and followed by a loud click of the heels as he snaps them together. The guard is changed every half hour during daylight in the summer, and every hour during daylight in the winter and every two hours at night (when the cemetery is closed to the public), regardless of weather conditions.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"IMG_2893\"<\/a>\"IMG_2917\"<\/a>The Changing of the Guard<\/strong><\/p>\n

Following the tolling of the bell in the tower nearby, a large soldier with broad shoulders and a very stern attitude, silently marched out to direct the changing of the guards.<\/p>\n

He is followed by the guard who will replace the incumbent. Before this takes place, he will be inspected by the directing soldier with the broad shoulders and stern attitude.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_2921\"<\/a>There is a full 3 or 4 minutes during which the replacement is thoroughly inspected.\u00a0 The stern soldier looks him over, up, down, left and right while standing in front of him just a mere 18 inches away.<\/p>\n

Then from the close quarters, the replacement soldier thrusts his rifle into the hands of the stern soldier for inspection.\u00a0 He flips the rifle in all directions inspecting it.\u00a0 He will look at the stock, forearm, barrel and muzzle.\u00a0 The rifle is twirled like a baton as he checks it for cleanness and shine.\u00a0 I believe the only thing he did not do to the rifle was turn it inside out.\u00a0 He then thrust it back to the replacement, who deftly caught it and returned it to his shoulder.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_2913\"<\/a>Afterwards, the inspection took place behind the replacement.\u00a0 Same thing, up, down, left and right.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_2915\"<\/a>Then in a loud, very clear voice, he commanded everyone to stand and remain quiet.\u00a0 No one misunderstand what he was saying, except one young lady who was mesmerized by her phone.\u00a0 Without turning his head or moving any part of his body except one arm, he raised it toward her and stately commanded her to stand.\u00a0 She realized she was the only one sitting and rose.\u00a0 Very quickly.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_2910\"<\/a>Every movement made was quick and sharp. Every turn of the body was with a foot stomp followed by a hard clack of the boots as they came together.\u00a0 The only thing they did quietly and graceful, was the actual march from one side of the shrine to the other.<\/p>\n

Laying in Wait, Beneath the Earth<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_2874\"<\/a>\"IMG_2867\"<\/a> \"IMG_2866\"<\/a> \"IMG_2865\"<\/a>It was interesting to note, the spouses of the fallen (or some of the children of single parents) were buried on the opposite side of the stone, and it is recorded that many slaves are buried there also.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_2965\"<\/a> \"IMG_2959\"<\/a> U.S. Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.\u00a0 Dulles International Airport bears his name.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_2940\"<\/a>Looking closely at this stone, it honors the men who fought in the famous battle between the Monitor and the Merrimack in 1862.\u00a0 Two iron clad ships that fought for hours.\u00a0 The Monitor eventually was lost during a gale off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, on December 31, 1862.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_2939\"\"IMG_2938\"<\/a>\"IMG_2875\"<\/a>\"IMG_2876\"<\/a>\"IMG_2937\"<\/a>There are many special monuments dedicated to the fallen.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_2945\"<\/a> \"IMG_2873\"<\/a> \"IMG_2955\"<\/a> \"IMG_2952\"<\/a> \"IMG_2943\"<\/a>And the incredible architecture.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_2982\"<\/a> \"IMG_2979\"<\/a> \"IMG_2978\"<\/a> \"IMG_2983\"<\/a>\"IMG_2927\"<\/a>The words around the arch state:\u00a0 We Here Highly Resolve That These Dead Shall Not Have Died In Vain<\/em><\/p>\n

There was so much to see, that I will return each time I am in the DC area.<\/p>\n

I took over a hundred pictures and culled out the best.\u00a0 They are on our Flickr site.\u00a0 To see them, click on this:\u00a0 Flickr<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you would like to spend an half hour on some very interesting reading, click on this Wikipedia article<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Until next time, kick butt.\u00a0 And if you are an American, take a moment to silently thank those who gave their lives so we can continue to be a free country.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 D.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For some strange reason, I have an attraction to cemeteries and have often wondered why?\u00a0 I can only suggest it …<\/p>\n

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