Sacred Honor

I've been there once. If I could get back to DC on a regular basis I'd make it a mandatory visit.
 
We made it to the Tomb of the Unknowns. Whatever day it was, time it was, season it was, there were very few other people there that day. We stuck around for over an hour, so we saw the Guard changed several times (every 30 min). We were getting ready to leave and it was time for another change. I happened to be down where the sentries leave their changing area and walk up around the corner to the Tomb. Those guys have an escort to help clear the way for them, and there's no doubt they are on a mission they take great pride in doing.

The other thing I noticed was you don't have to walk very far to see a familiar name on a headstone.

We walked from the visitor's center over to the Marine Corps War Memorial. A bit of a hike, but we came across a couple other memorials hidden along the way.
 
I saw his interview on Tucker the other night and ordered the book. I've been to 9 funerals at Arlington including 5 relatives and was the flag bearer for a teammate while I was stationed in Norfolk.
 
One of these days I might take a trek out to Belgium. Gramps is buried in a cemetery there. He was killed in WWII.
 
Been to a few, helped fold a flag for a friend. Sucks the heart right out of you. What we have built here has been expensive - beautiful, epic, original, but our currency ought to be colored red. Getting too old, I think. Wish some of my brothers had been able to grow old, as well. I still see them as they were, then. Maybe again, if there is something on the other side. . .
 
One of these days I might take a trek out to Belgium. Gramps is buried in a cemetery there. He was killed in WWII.
I was in Luxembourg nearly 10 years ago for work. I had a few free days, so I went to the US cemetery. Gen. Patton is buried there.

The most interesting thing about it, something I never thought about - I stopped in at the visitor center at the entrance. The guy there asked if I was looking for someone particular, and I realized he was American. I mentioned something about that, him being one of the few Americans I had run into on my trip. He said something like, "It's an American cemetery. It's part of America, and we staff it with Americans."

He commented The Battle of the Bulge casualties killed were approx 2:1. The US cemetery has about 5,000 graves, the nearbty German cemetery about 10,000. They still have burials as remains are recovered in the countryside.



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I have been a body escort home...best and worst duty I ever had.
 
My heartfelt thanks, appreciation, and respect to all of you who have served this great country in the military, and for those who have sacrificed, especially those who gave their all in the service.
 
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