Posted on 12/14/2019 9:31:20 AM PST by yesthatjallen
Thousands of volunteers descended on Arlington National Cemetery in northern Virginia for the annual Wreaths Across America Day to help honor fallen service members.
Parking lots at the burial ground were quickly filled as the volunteers swarmed to pick up wreaths to lay at the cemetery’s tombstones. The event is part of a nationwide effort that takes place at roughly 1,600 cemeteries across the country to honor veterans.
“We understand we have Veterans Day in the fall and Memorial Day in the spring, but our service members sacrifice their time and safety every single day of the year to preserve our freedoms,” Wreaths for America says on its website.
“In many homes, there is an empty seat for one who is serving or one who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. There is no better time to express our appreciation than during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.”
SNIP
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
Is that the JFK Eternal flame? I never knew it was that big or is it distorted some from the camera angle? There have been lots of pictures of people and especially members of the Kennedy family around the flame and it didn’t look that huge.
The Q?
Sorry - I looked the Eternal flame up and that definitely isn’t it. It’s much smaller, sets up off the ground with grass....
Have been to Arlington many, many years ago - senior trip in the ‘50’s but only at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (at that time) and changing of the guard. Wonder if this is near the Custis Lee Mansion? I know “wondering” only gets me in trouble!
No....It’s much smaller. John and Jackie are buried side by side and the two brothers are also within the site. Google images.
Better people than me to make the effort.
It’s very touching.
That photo is at the very end of the road leading into Arlington Cemeteries main gate where you can turn either right or left to enter the cemetery. In the distance is a traffic circle and on the far side of it is the Virginia side of memorial bridge. On the DC side of the bridge is the Lincoln Memorial.
The photograph was taken from the women’s memorial and museum at the end of the road from Memorial bridge looking out of the cemetery toward memorial bridge. The people are entering the cemetery and turning left from their perspective through a gate onto Eisenhower Avenue next to the visitors center.
The JFK flame is an ordinary propane tiki torch, slightly modified. It’s the setting that’s impressive.
I spent the morning placing wreaths at my parents grave site and the two sections next to my parents section. I walked through section 60 to help place wreaths in the area of the cemetery where KIA soldiers from the War on Terror are buried.
Thank you. Something I’ll never get to see again. A lot of changes since the ‘50’s...Vietnam Wall etc.
Thank you.
Thank you.
If you don’t mind me asking, is it your age, health or finances that prevent you from visiting Arlington National Cemetery again?
My wife and grand daughter are up playing wreaths are out local vet cemetery today for Wreaths Across America. They do it every year.
I was there in 2003, to bury a Marine nephew.
Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/455742/sandhills-state-veterans-cemetery
And thousands more at local Veterans Cemeteries around the Country and at Normandy.
We just got home after helping lay about 1000 wreaths in Maryland.
Nice. I like North Carolina. I Visit there often.
And my granddaughters (American Heritage Girls) were doing this in Florida.
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