Unknown, but not Forgotten

Arlington National Cemetery – Arlington, Virginia (November 2010)

Paying Our Respects at Arlington National Cemetery

Saturday, 13 November

With blue skies and sunshine, and temps reaching 65F (18C) this afternoon, we just had to get out for a while and enjoy Mother Nature’s bounty.  Since we both had to work on Veteran’s Day, we thought we’d head to Arlington National Cemetery to pay our respects to the military men and women who have served to protect us in the past, and who continue to do so today.

Here’s a short bit of history on how November 11 came to be known as Veteran’s Day in the US (quoted from the website of the Department of Veterans Affairs):

World War I — known at the time as “The Great War” — officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France.  However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.  For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day^* with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”

* Veteran’s Day as of 1954.  (For more information, click here.)

Arlington is one of two national cemeteries administered by the US Army.  It was established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E Lee's wife Mary Anna (Custis) Lee, a great grand-daughter of Martha Washington.

Many of the veterans and military casualties from each of the nation's wars are interred here … the names of some are known; the names of others are not … some were public figures; others ordinary citizens … some were high ranking; others not.

More than 4 million visitors come to Arlington each year.  Most stay in the lower-to-mid reaches of the cemetery.  They visit the Eternal Flame at President Kennedy’s grave.  They pay their respects to astronauts, prominent explorers, literary figures, Medal of Honor recipients, five-star officers, Revolutionary War veterans, musicians, Supreme Court justices, and more.  They attend a Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns.  They stroll the meandering paths, reading the names carved into simple headstones.  They contemplate the elaborate monuments and memorials in the older sections of the cemetery.  Many venture up to tour Arlington House.  But few, if any, venture beyond.

We much prefer the peaceful solitude of the upper reaches of the cemetery, which can be accessed from Ft Myer (now Joint Base Myer-Henderson).  Showing our military IDs to the guards, we strolled through the wrought iron gate and explored the less-visited areas, venturing as far as Arlington House.

Here’s the eerie part of our visit … whether you choose to believe it or not, I did not recognize the significance of the dates of birth listed on the following two headstones until we got home and I uploaded the photographs to my computer.  Why do I think these photos are a bit creepy?  Though the years are wrong, the one on the left is my birth date; the one on the right is my brother’s birth date.  Yes; a little shiver did go up my spine after I noticed the dates.

Following our visit to Arlington, we braved the DC traffic — on a Saturday evening no less — to have dinner at Agora, a restaurant that features a menu of Mediterranean dishes.  Except for a few people at the bar, we were the first of the diners to arrive.  By the time our drinks were served, the tables were filled with patrons out to enjoy a good meal.  A popular place, no doubt about it.

Somehow, we were under the impression that the food was traditional Turkish, but we were wrong … definitely more of a blend from the region.  We especially liked the “meze” (small-plate or tapas) concept that allowed us to order a variety of dishes.  Each was quite good and we washed it all down with a couple of Efes Pilsen beers.

Our dinner was a great way to cap off a pleasant fall afternoon and a memorable visit to Arlington National Cemetery.