Two days ago I visited Arlington National Cemetery. On the day I visited there were 25 burials scheduled. The number varies between 25 and 30 every weekday. Several times I heard the three riffle volley in honor of a deceased veteran. There was also a 13 gun salute (a two-star rank officer) and the longest at 19 guns (a high state official) on that day. Although I didn’t witness any of the interment ceremonies, there was always a feeling of reverence for those who lost there lives while walking through the cemetery and watching the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier.
It is not often that I post just to show recent photos, but I wanted to share these images in remembrance of those who have served and to show the cemetery dressed with Christmas wreaths. Every grave, over 400,000 in 2013, was adorned with a live wreath placed on the preceding Saturday through the Wreaths Across America event. An added bonus was the recent fall of bright yellow ginkgo leaves from the trees creating a beautiful carpet in some parts of the cemetery to contrast with the deep green grass and red bow of the wreaths. And our unusually warm late Fall caused the cherry tree blossoms to open adding yet another surprise.
