Arlington Cemetery

On Saturday 12 May 2007 we caught the Metro over to Arlington Cemetery: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/. As Australians, the grave sites of JFK, Jacqueline and Bobby Kennedy were the main things that attracted us to the Cemetery, although I had already been through back in June 2002 with John Meyer as my guide! The Arlington page on Kennedy is here: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/historical_information/JFK.html. If you are as interested in his life and legacy as I am, have a read of Robert Dallek's wonderful benchmark biography: http://www.amazon.com/Unfinished-Life-John-Kennedy-1917-1963/dp/0316172383/ref=ed_oe_h/104-2673433-6635931?ie=UTF8&qid=1179184786&sr=8-8

We went through Arlington House which was General Robert E Lee's home prior to the Civil War. His wife was George Washington's great-granddaughter (by adoption of a child from his wife's first marriage) and the house was built as a memorial to George Washington and, pre war, housed much of the nation's Washington memorabilia. Short story is that it was taken by the Federal Government and used to bury Union soldiers so the Lees would never want to return to the home. A fuller version: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/historical_information/arlington_house.html.

Arlington also has a wonderful ceremony involving the the Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknowns. I've always found going into the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after the ANZAC Day Dawn Service to be a powerful experience. But the pomp and ceremony of The Old Guard is spectacular. On my previous visit, I only experienced the guarding of the Tomb. We saw the changing of the guard on Saturday as well. Something that has to be seen to appreciate the solemnity and dignity of the ceremony but see: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/ceremonies/sentinelsotu.html.

With two tired and hungry kids, we then headed off to Pentagon City for lunch and some shopping. Panda Express couldn't understand why we wouldn't upgrade the basic bowl of fried rice and one entree for only $1 extra to get another entree. The fact we were the only ones in the centre not to do this but still had trouble getting through our meal speaks volumes for the need for PORTION CONTROL people!!

Malcolm