Visiting Arlington National Cemetery - A Tradition of Honor and History Author: Barbara Wade Website: http://www.hotelpalomar-arlington.com Added: Tue, Jan 15, 2008 20:05:52 Category: Travel & Leisure

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Although not located directly in Washington DC, many visitors to our nation’s capital make plans to stop by one of our country's most honored sites: Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.  For anyone with a link to the American military or those with a strong sense of patriotism, a tour of this landmark can be an awe-inspiring and emotional excursion. From the grand Memorial Gate to the over 200 acres of burial plots to more than two dozen memorials within the cemetery, there is an undeniable feeling of history and profound honor.

The History of Arlington National Cemetery

Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton designated the current site in Arlington, Virginia - consisting of Arlington Mansion and the 200 acres of ground immediately surrounding it - as an official military cemetery on June 15, 1864.  Since that time, over 300,000 people have been buried there, and contrary to popular belief, there are more than military personnel buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Many civilians have been buried there as well. 

Veterans - from the Revolutionary War through the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars - can be found at the cemetery. However, you will also find more than 1,100 freed slaves, over 3,800 former slaves and police officers who died in the line of duty. Surviving spouses, widows, widowers and minor children are also eligible for burial at the cemetery.

Several famous individuals have found their final resting places at Arlington National Cemetery including musician Glenn Miller, president and Chief Justice, William Howard Taft, and fellow Chief Justices Warren Earl Burger and William H. Rehnquist. 

Women also hold prominence at the cemetery including Margariette Higgins, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the only woman correspondent during the Korean War, as well as Barbara Rainey, the first woman pilot in the Navy.

The Tomb of the Unknowns

However, while many will always be remembered in the hearts of their loved ones and by a grateful nation, there are those who were unidentifiable.  These soldiers are interned in the Tomb of the Unknowns.  There are actually several tombs dedicated to the unknown soldiers: one for World War I, for World War II, for the Korean War and for the Vietnam War.  The tombs are guarded twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.  This is one of the most-visited sites within the cemetery.

The Memorial Amphitheater

Also located on the grounds at Arlington National Cemetery is the Memorial Amphitheater, where each year, the U.S. Military District of Washington sponsors memorial services.  Easter, Memorial Day and Veterans Day are set aside to honor those who have served.

The Amphitheater is remarkable in several respects starting with its cornerstone laid in 1915 by Woodrow Wilson.  According to the official website of the Arlington National Cemetery, the cornerstone contains copies of:

• The Bible 


• The Declaration of Independence 


• The U.S. Constitution 


• U.S. Flag (1915) 


• Designs and plans for the amphitheater 


• L'Enfant's map design of the city of Washington, D.C. 


• Autograph of the amphitheater commission 


• One of each U.S. coin in use in 1915 


• One of each U.S. postage stamp in use in 1915 


• 1914 map of Washington, D.C. 


• The Congressional Directory 


• Boyd's City Directory for the District of Columbia 


• Autographed photo of President Woodrow Wilson 


• The cornerstone dedication program


• The Evening Star newspaper account of the ceremonies, and the campaign to build the Amphitheater

Making Plans To Visit

If you're planning to visit the Washington DC area soon and would like to tour the Cemetery, you can choose a boutique or luxury hotel in which to stay.  Accommodations in Arlington, Virginia are readily available, or, for those traveling from Washington DC, boutique hotel reservations can also easily be made.

No trip to Washington is complete without including a tour of Arlington National Cemetery.  For the young and old, this historic symbol of respect and honor is bound to make a lasting impression on all who walk its paths.

About the Author:
Barbara Wade writes articles for the Hotel Palomar Arlington, a Washington DC boutique hotel near Arlington National Cemetery. With exceptional accommodations and a profound sense of environmental responsibility, the Hotel Palomar Arlington offers a convenient, central location to Washington DC. Visit http://www.hotelpalomar-arlington.com. © 2007, All Rights Reserved