Here’s another overdue post. Thirteen years ago, when we lived in Springfield, VA, I used to go by the cemetery on my way to work on the Metro every day. I’ve wanted to go visit it ever since. A couple of weeks ago we loaded up the kiddos and my Mom and made the trip.
It was very much what I expected but really neat nonetheless. Needless to say, it’s a very somber place and it makes you think about all the men and women who gave their lives for this country through the years. I am really glad there is such a dignified place for them, where we can go and pay our respects. It was a beautiful spring day with lots of flowers and trees in bloom.
We walked all the way up the hill to the Tomb of the Unknown and saw the changing of the guard, which was very solemn and cool. We had read about it online beforehand but it was still pretty amazing to see in person. The precision of the ritual is amazing. All the guards take the exact same number of steps in the exact same places every single time. After performing it so many times over the years, there are rust stains on the granite where the metal plates on their shoes have touched the ground.
After that, we made our way to the Kennedy grave site, then walked around the cemetery some more and talked about its meaning with Nia. She’s probably a little young to truly understand but I think she got the general idea. We’ll have to go back one day when both she and Chutney are old enough to understand.
I like to walk though cemeteries too. We have had 2 houses right next to them and found it strangely comforting.
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