| ARTICLES | Globetrotting Planning Articles
Credit Card 101
Credit Card Crisis
Honey I Shrunk Your Luggage Allowance
Renting A Vacation Home 101
Special Vacation Advice for Families with Special Needs Children
Ten Surprising Things You Should Never Leave Home Without
The 1964 World's Fair
The PassPorter Way
Tips for Traveling
Where In The World?
Globetrotting Traveling Articles
A Real National Treasure
A San Francisco Treat
Adventure to Washington, D.C.
Adventures by Disney
Airline Security
Amish Country
Arlington National Cemetery
Bath, England
Buckingham Palace
Busch Garden Africa's SheiKra
CARES Child Restraint System
Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio
Celebration, Florida
Charleston, South Carolina
Costa Rica Adventures by Disney
Discovering "America's Finest City"
Disney's Vero Beach
Disneyland
Dover Castle
Driving Through The Night
Escape Into Alcatraz
Eurostar
Explore Alaska (From The Comfort of Your RV!)
Explore Alaska (From The Comfort of Your RV!)
Flying with Kids
Fort Sumter
Greeter Programs
Helsinki, Finland
Hong Kong Disneyland
How to Handle A "Bumpy" Flight
I Dream Of Hawaii
In a New York Minute
iPhone, I Travel
Kapalua, Maui
Keeping Kids Happy on Long Car Rides
Kent, England
King Tut and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs
Las Vegas
Las Vegas for Families
London, UK
Los Angeles
Macau
Madison County, New York
Molto Italia
More Than Bridges
My First NASCAR Experience
Nashville, Tennessee
National Aquarium
New Orleans
New York City
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Not Your Average Bus Tour
On the Road to Walt Disney World
Oslo, Norway
Passport Update
Playing the Waiting Game
Port Canaveral, Florida
Redondo Beach, California
Salem, Massachusetts
Southwest and JetBlue
St. Louis
Stockholm, Sweden
Stonehenge
Tahiti
The Amtrak Auto Train
The Globe Theatre
The Grand Canyon
The Great Smoky Mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains
The Other Side of the Falls
The Quest for the West
The World's Loveliest Castle
To Rent or Not To Rent
Tokyo DisneySea
Tokyo DisneySea
Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions
Traveling Carry-On to Walt Disney World
Traveling With Extended Family
Universal
Using Orlando's "Other" Airport
Vermont by Bicycle
Viva Italia!
Viva Italia! Part 1
Viva Italia! Part 2
Viva Las Vegas!
Vive la Difference
What To Do While Waiting for a Flight
When to Visit Walt Disney World
Wimbledon
Windsor Castle
Winter Wonderland
Yosemite
Your First Trip to Universal Studios Orlando
Globetrotting Lodging Articles
Disney Vacation Club's Hilton Head Island Resort
Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort
Disney's Vero Beach Resort
Hotel MiraCosta
My Favorite Disney Resort
Tokyo Disney Resort
Globetrotting Touring Articles
Berlin
Blue Horizons
Cruising Alaska
Disneyland Paris In A Day
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Part 2
Legendary Tibet
Marseilles
Monaco
More of the Mediterranean
Morikami Museum
Nickelodeon Cruise
Pompeii
Rome
SeaWorld Orlando
The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride
Tokyo DisneySea
Universal Orlando
Unlocking the Magic of the Florida Keys
Unlocking The Magic of The Florida Keys
Venice
Zoos of the World
Globetrotting Dining Articles
Dining In New York City
Dining In New York City
Globetrotting Making Magic Articles
Busch Gardens Africa
Disneyland Paris for the Holidays
Epcot DiveQuest
Get Some Sand In Your Shoes
Ice! at the Gaylord Palms Resort
Splash Down at Disney's Water Parks
The El Capitan Theatre
The Making of PassPorter
The Poconos
The Queen Mary
Globetrotting General Travel Articles
Assateague Island National Seashore
Back To Barcelona
Bellagio of Las Vegas
Cape Cod
Chicago
Chincoteague, Virginia
Costa Blanca
Discovery Cove
Disney on Broadway
Disney's Magical Express
Disneyland Paris
Dominica
Eurotunnel
Exploring Chicago's Museums
Flying Premium Economy
Gloucester, Massachusetts
Hersheypark
Hersheypark, Pennsylvania
Hever Castle
Hilton Head Island
Hiroshima, Japan
Hong Kong Disneyland Celebrates
Japan
Kennedy Space Center
Key West
Learning the Language
Managing Memories
Miami, Florida
Mount Fuji & Hakone, Japan
My Quest for the West
New Orleans Revisited
Nikko, Japan
One Place is Never Enough!
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Portsmouth, England
Sardinia
Serendipity 3 in New York City
St. Paul's Cathedral, London
The Billie Swamp Safari Park
The Green Heart of the Big Apple
Tired, Tried And True
Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo DisneySea
Tokyo, Japan
Traveling the Northern Oregon Coast
Valencia, Spain
Valley of Fire
Viewing Cities From Above
Willcox, Arizona
View all PassPorter articles |
| | PassPorter's
Article Tools |
|
|
Arlington National Cemetery: A Monument to Heroesby Michelle Clark, PassPorter Guest Contributor
Last modified 9/4/2008
Cool Tip: Click here to get a FREE PDF version of this article, fully formatted to print and put into your PassPorter Deluxe Binder!
Filed in Articles > U.S. Travel > Traveling
Situated just west of Washington D.C., across the Potomac River, is one of the most famous cemeteries in our nation. Arlington National Cemetery is not just a final resting place for America's heroes and a peaceful refuge from the hustle of downtown D.C., but a memorial to many chapters of this country's history.The area now occupied by Arlington National Cemetery was originally the home of George Washington Parke Custis. His father, John Parke Custis, was Martha Washington's son from a previous marriage and was adopted by George Washington. Custis hired the same architect who designed the U.S. Capitol to draw the plans for his estate home, which would be located high above the city of Washington D.C. When visitors would remark on his excellent views of the city, Custis was known to reply that the city "had an excellent view of him."
The first graves at Arlington were filled during the Civil War. Since that time, veterans from every American war and conflict have been buried here. In fact, there are more than 300,000 servicemen and their family members resting at Arlington National Cemetery.
Arlington is easily accessible by car with ample paid parking in a covered parking deck. The Metro station entrance is adjacent to the parking deck. The welcome center has a variety of exhibits and helpful information-picking up a map of the property is a must! You can also research the location of specific graves here. If you don't feel like walking the 600 acres that comprise Arlington National Cemetery you can purchase tickets for the Tourmobile in the visitor center.
Upon exiting the visitor center, the first site of interest is the grave of President William Howard Taft. Continue north on Custis Walk to the graves of President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert F. Kennedy. This site was selected as the final place of rest for the fallen President due to his love of the remarkable views from that area. President Kennedy's widow and two infant children are also buried here. The graves are marked by the Eternal Flame and bordered with rocks from Cape Cod personally selected by the Kennedy family. Robert F. Kennedy's grave is simpler, marked with a small white headstone and cross similar to thousands of others in the cemetery.
Just above the Kennedy graves is Arlington House, George Washington Parke Custis' mansion. The house was passed on to Custis' daughter and her famous husband, Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The Lees lived in the house for a period of time, and the house has been restored as a memorial to him. This is a great place to take in the panoramic views of the city. If you stand just west of the house you can get a glimpse of the top of the Pentagon as well. Located behind the house is a small museum and restrooms.
Probably one of the most popular attractions at Arlington National Cemetery is the Tomb of the Unknowns, located at the Memorial Amphitheater. There are three unknown servicemen interred here. The Changing of the Guard is a somber ceremony that occurs every 30 minutes during the summer months and every 60 minutes in October through March. The walk from the visitor center to the Tomb of the Unknowns is a brisk 20 minutes - uphill! Don't feel rushed to arrive for the ceremony on time, as you might overlook the beauty and serenity of the grounds. There is plenty of room for viewing the ceremony from the steps behind the Amphitheater. At the top of the steps is one of the more stunning views of Washington.
Between the Tomb of the Unknowns and the Amphitheater is the Memorial Display Room. Do take a few minutes to browse through the plaques, photographs and display cases that document the history of this tribute to the unknown servicemen, as well as the many soldiers lost during America's history. It's also a great place to escape the heat!
The Memorial Amphitheater is the site of national ceremonies that honor America's veterans. The Amphitheater will forever hold many chapters of U.S. history. During construction of the Amphitheater in 1915 many important artifacts were sealed in the cornerstone including a U.S. flag, copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, coins and postage stamps, a bible, a map of the city, and an autographed photo of President Woodrow Wilson.
Across from the Amphitheater on Memorial Drive are several points of interest. The grave of Audie Murphy, the most decorated combat soldier of World War II, is a simple white headstone marked with a small American flag. To the right of the Murphy grave are memorials to the crews of the Challenger and Columbia space shuttles. All seven of the crew killed on the Challenger mission and three of the astronauts killed in the Columbia mission are buried near these monuments. A memorial to the servicemen killed during the rescue attempt of American hostages held in Iran is located next to the shuttle monuments. Above these markers the mast of the USS Maine, sunk in Havana Harbor after an explosion in 1898, is visible. 229 sailors killed onboard the USS Maine are interred in a small plot next to the memorial, many of whom were never identified.
On average there are over 20 funerals taking place at the cemetery daily. During our visit we were able to witness a funeral procession that included a military band and escort troops, which preceded a horse-drawn caisson. Cemetery personnel instructed us that we are allowed to take photos at a respectful distance. As we continued our walk through the cemetery we saw Army soldiers preparing a gun salute for a funeral.
Besides the two presidents buried at Arlington, twelve former Supreme Court justices have been laid to rest here, including Earl Warren, Thurgood Marshall, and Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Other notable grave sites include Daniel James, the first African-American four-star general; Joe Louis, champion heavyweight boxer and World War II veteran; and Pierre Charles L'Enfant, the architect who designed Washington D.C.
If you're planning a visit to Washington D.C., a stop at Arlington National Cemetery can be a pleasant change of pace from the hustle and bustle going on in the city below. Here are a few tips to make your visit to Arlington more enjoyable:
- You will be doing a lot of walking, so wear comfortable clothing and sturdy walking shoes. The only alternative to walking is buying a Tourmobile ticket. Handicapped visitors can get a special pass at the visitor center to drive inside the cemetery.
- Visits to most of the monuments and sites will require three to four hours. During the summer the temperature can climb quickly, so I would suggest arriving early in the morning. The cemetery opens at 8:00 am, is open until 7:00 pm in the summer and 5:00 pm the rest of the year.
- Stay hydrated by taking a water bottle. But please remember that this is a place of respect and not a picnic site.
- Don't rush-take time to appreciate the beautiful landscaping and architecture.
- Bring your camera-you'll be overwhelmed by the number of photo ops here!
About the Author: Michelle Clark is a self-professed thrill ride junkie and the mother of three teens who share in her obsession. Her goal is to experience as many theme parks as possible and stay in every Disney resort before she dies!
Related Links:
Traveling Carry-On to Walt Disney World - Avoid Those Baggage Fees last updated 12/18/2008
New York City - Something Old, Something New last updated 01/02/2009
On the Road to Walt Disney World - Doing "The Drive" last updated 01/20/2009
Airline Security - 10 Important Tips and Reminders last updated 1/21/2009
Sick at Sea - (But Not Sea Sick!) last updated 5/14/2009
Reader Comments:
So what do you think? Click here to share your comments, feedback, and experiences on this article and topic!
(Note: You must be a member of our PassPorter Message Board Community to leave comments. Join today for free!)
This article originally appeared in the PassPorter newsletter -- subscribe to our popular newsletter today for free!
Return to PassPorter.com |
Ask a Question on the PassPorter Message Boards
Updated 9/4/2008 - Article #125
Read additional articles from PassPorter.com
|
Subscribe to our free e-mail newsletter, PassPorter News, published for nearly 50,000 opt-in subscribers worldwide.
As an added bonus for subscribing, you will receive a 20% discount coupon for the PassPorter Store -- no catch!
We respect your privacy and never sell or rent our subscriber list. Subscribing will not result
in more spam! We guarantee it.
|
Please feel free to link to this page so that other vacationers can find it.
Copyright 1999-2010
by PassPorter Travel Press, an imprint of MediaMarx, Inc.
Publishers of bestselling travel guidebooks and proud recipients of 12 national book awards
~ * ~ Celebrating 11 Years of Making Dreams Come True! ~ * ~
Questions? Concerns? Please e-mail us at feedback@passporter.com or call us at 877-929-3273
We respect your privacy -- please review our Privacy Policy
Read more about PassPorter or advertise with us. | |
PassPorter.com Recommends
RSS General
PassPorter Community - Message Boards and Forums - Getting There (and Back!):...
By car, plane, or train -- share your tips, plans, and experiences with others!
Forum Sponsored by Quicksilver Tours & Transportation
Luggage Restrictions & Fees
by geekymom
19 Mar 2010 at 4:42pm
We haven't flown since 2006 so I'm just checking things out. With all these fees and restrictions I'm getting freaked out. :eek:We're flying Jet Blue...
(click title above to view replies)
Just booked my flight for April 28th
by janicelovesmickey
19 Mar 2010 at 11:36am
SOOOOOOO EXCITED now april needs to get here quickly
I am leaving at 6:25 am yikes!!! I am having a dilema, do I take the train at 3am or just...
(click title above to view replies)
Southwest opening up schedule...
by notjustamom
19 Mar 2010 at 9:30am
as per their website on March 23rd, Southwest will be opening up their flight schedule through OCTOBER 30th. Just wanted to give a heads up to those...
(click title above to view replies)
Airplane Trips For Dummys (
by rezmommy
18 Mar 2010 at 9:34pm
We are going to WDW in July for our very first trip. We have never been on a "real" vacation and we have never been on an airplane.
I have so...
(click title above to view replies)
Food at airport
by SARAHROO42
18 Mar 2010 at 7:46pm
We leave EARLY Sat. morning :woot:and I want to take a box of Krispy Kremes :facelick:for us to eat while waiting for our flight. I have had the...
(click title above to view replies)
|
|
