There are a few incidents, where most of the world can remember
exactly where they were, when they first heard about it. 9-11-2001 is definitely
one of them. Our guide at Ground Zero in New York was only 9 years old, but
still remembered where she was. So do I, as more or less the rest of the world.
If you are old enough, you will also remember where you were on November 22, 1963, when president Kennedy was shot. I was only 8 years old, and I remember clearly the moment, and the faces of the adults around me. I also remember what an impression it made on me, when I read in the newspaper, that on Kennedys grave there would be a flame, that would burn forever. Forever seemed like a very long time for an 8 year old.
If you are old enough, you will also remember where you were on November 22, 1963, when president Kennedy was shot. I was only 8 years old, and I remember clearly the moment, and the faces of the adults around me. I also remember what an impression it made on me, when I read in the newspaper, that on Kennedys grave there would be a flame, that would burn forever. Forever seemed like a very long time for an 8 year old.
Today I got to see the flame, and the grave.
His two brothers, Joseph and Robert are also buried here (Ed too).
Joseph was a pilot and got killed in World War II.
Robert was, as a lot of you know, assassinated after he won the democratic primary election in California in 1968. Three sons killed in the service of their country. Not many families have been hit with as many tragedies as this one.
We went to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC
(Actually in Virginia, right across the Potomac River).
The area was originally owned (around 1800) by a descendent (efterkommer) of George Washington, and was meant to be a memorial (mindesmærke) for Washington. Up to the civil war the owner at the time (still a Washington relative), was married to Robert E. Lee who later became the leading commander in the confederate army in the civil war. So, the story is true, that it was Lee's home, except for it was his wife who had the title (skødet). When Virginia seceded (løsrev sig), the Union forces attacked the area and occupied it. When there was no more room for all the dead soldiers from the civil war in the Washington graveyards, they started using this area. The first soldier was buried there in 1864.
It is an impressive sight. Not easy to describe, and not easy to capture in pictures. We’ll try with the pictures.
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| The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier There is a guard there 24/7/365 |
There are 400.000 people buried here.
250.000 with a military background and 150.000 relatives.
In order to get buried here, you have to have served in the military. And then your spouse (ægtefælle) and any dependent children (ca. umyndige børn) can get buried here too.
Funerals are going on all the time. 20-25 per day, six days a week.
But two very impressive monuments that I had to take pictures of 😊
Written by JJ
PS
I found out that Ira Hayes was buried here and looked up his grave.
I found out that Ira Hayes was buried here and looked up his grave.
Ira Hayes was one of the six soldiers who raised the flag at Iwo Jima (an important battle in the pacific in Wold War II). The raising of the flag was captured in a picture that became iconic, and eventually the inspiration to the Iwo Jima Monument at the Marine Corps. Unfortunately it is under restoration, so we didn’t get to see it ☹.
Ira Hayes lived a poor life after World War II. His story is also told in the song “The Ballad of Ira Hayes”.
The most popular version song by Johnny Cash.
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