Arlington in Winter

[Gypsy]

I've only been to Arlington once, it was April...fantastic weather and the Cherry Blossoms were in bloom.

These pictures are so austere yet beautiful.

http://www.stripes.com/09/jan09/arlingtonsnow_gallery/

[JJ_BPK]

Thanks,, very emotional..

[f50lrrp]

I buried my brother, 1LT Robert T. Soetaert, Pathfinder Platoon Leader !st Cav Division, 1969-1970, at Arlington last year. Thank you forthis posting.

Originally Posted by f50lrrp

I buried my brother, 1LT Robert T. Soetaert, Pathfinder Platoon Leader !st Cav Division, 1969-1970, at Arlington last year. Thank you forthis posting.

Arlington is one of my favorite places. If there are any photos in particular you would like PM me.. I am going to DC tomorrow. I can look up anyone and do photos of and around for anyone. I go down to DC a lot....I work there.

I was there Veterans Day. I make it a special point to go on Veteran's and Memorial Day (or Memorial Day weekend). Each time I go 'cross country'..something frowned on..but in the part of the south I was reared it one gives life and memories to those who have gone before by reading thier names out loud on thier headstone. To say, Sgt XX give him life again.. honors him..at least, someone can remember, if only for the space of a few seconds. It was what my Granmom taught me to do.. so I do and photograph as I go.

Arlington in the fall is simply beautiful. I have a lot of Photos from there.
In the older sections, where one could put our soldiers accomplishments for all to remember, there are some wonderful names. So many don't go back past the Maine Memorial. I got lost looking for the nurses memorial and wandered into the Civil War sections. Of course, by now, all who knew them are dead, it was peaceful. No sense of overwhelming grief like I have felt in other parts of Arlington. I ran into a young man leaving a baseball signed by all the Baltimore Orioles at Abner Doubledays grave. A family who made a shrine to thier young son/brother in 'area 60'...and finally found the nurses memorial. It was simple and lovely.

I had gone, that day to Arlington because my mom, who lives in fla. Wanted a photo or two of fall color..
Mods, if this is not allowed. please delete. This one of the photos I took from Arlington looking towards the Washington Memorial. Veterans Day 2008
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...ubbles/077.jpg

Taken Memorial Day 2007. Just a bit to the left and in front of the tree is my husbands grave.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...orVideo334.jpg

looking towards the Kennedy gravesite
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...orVideo336.jpg

I got incredibly lucky one day and caught the Old Gaurd removing the flag at the end of the day.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...orVideo359.jpg

If you cannot get in, let me know, I will remove the password for a week or two.
A.M.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by armymom1228

I got incredibly lucky one day and caught the Old Gaurd striking the colors..

A.M.

One minor technical correction.

"Striking the colors" is an act of surrender.

What you saw is called "Retreat", IIRC.

TR

[Pete]

The Retreat ceremony is comprised of the Bugle Calls "Retreat" followed by "To the Colors".

From another site:

"The bugle call "retreat" is sounded just before the actual lowering of the flag. At the last note of this call, a cannon is fired. Then, if a band is present, the national anthem will be rendered. In the absence of a band, the bugle call "to the colors" is substituted. As the anthem, or "to the colors" is sounded, the flag is lowered. The lowering of the flag will be regulated so as to be completed with the last note of the music. All personnel within sight or sound of the ceremony will come to attention and render the appropriate salute, facing the flag."

Originally Posted by The Reaper

One minor technical correction.

"Strinking the colors" is an act of surrender.

What you saw is called "Retreat", IIRC.

TR

Thanks TR... I knew that, I must have had one of those blond/hotflash/senior moments when I typed that mistake.
I am going back to lurking.
AM

Arlington National Cemetary has a Facebook page. Photos of the snowstorm of 2010 here.

More photos from Arlington Winter 2010

[jbour13]

Thanks for sharing the pics and links.

The wife and I made a monthly "pilgrimage" to the cemetary to pay our respects to our nation's fallen and heroes of all generations.

Seeing and hearing the changing of the guard, and watching the Old Guard conduct their duty is an honor and a priveledge.

I have friend that used to do it (now an 18D) and he said that job was one of the most difficult and demanding jobs he's had in his career.

[ZonieDiver]

Originally Posted by Pete

The Retreat ceremony is comprised of the Bugle Calls "Retreat" followed by "To the Colors".

From another site:

"The bugle call "retreat" is sounded just before the actual lowering of the flag. At the last note of this call, a cannon is fired. Then, if a band is present, the national anthem will be rendered. In the absence of a band, the bugle call "to the colors" is substituted. As the anthem, or "to the colors" is sounded, the flag is lowered. The lowering of the flag will be regulated so as to be completed with the last note of the music. All personnel within sight or sound of the ceremony will come to attention and render the appropriate salute, facing the flag."

I had a Brigade commander in Panama who cared little about ANYthing, save that "Retreat" went well on a daily basis, with the items Pete mentioned. He'd stand in his window and watch. Woe be unto the Commander of the Relief charged with the duty if it did not go well.

To put this past snowstorm in perspective look at the photographs, see if,in some of the photos you can find the headstones.

[Utah Bob]

It's a special place. Very special.

Originally Posted by Utah Bob

It's a special place. Very special.

I was with a friend, who had just buried her 22 yr old Marine son. With us was her 5 yr old granddaughter named for that same man. As we walked in the back part of Arlington where the Rough Riders Monument is and the Civil War dead are buried. For no particular reason Paulette spoke up in her 5yr old voice and said,
"you do know God lives here?" It was a statement. She was correct, God does live there.

[Red Flag 1]

Thanks for the post and pics Gypsy!!

RF 1

[CSB]

Not all of Washington stayed home during the massive snowfall, the Old Guard was still serving: