I was just looking at the new photos you posted. I was going to ask you if you went to Arlington.
Trip to DC
- Thread starter The Seeker
- Start date
Help Support Triumph Motorcycle Forum:
[quote author=CarlS link=topic=9554.msg47790#msg47790 date=1278902725]
I was just looking at the new photos you posted. I was going to ask you if you went to Arlington.
[/quote]
Absolutely! My kids thought that would be a rather depressing place to see. But once they took the tour, they were glad I insisted on it. My Son even had me take a photo of Thurgood Marshall's headstone.
I was just looking at the new photos you posted. I was going to ask you if you went to Arlington.
[/quote]
Absolutely! My kids thought that would be a rather depressing place to see. But once they took the tour, they were glad I insisted on it. My Son even had me take a photo of Thurgood Marshall's headstone.
It is an impressive place to visit - and sad, too. Did you get to see the changing of the Guard? I'm glad you insisted they visit.
I overheard my Daughter saying to my Wife (she stayed behind to take care of the animals and work) on the cellphone "DaD's making us go to a cemetery today"......LOL!!
I have photos of Kennedy's grave and stuff too.
I made sure the kids saw the changing of the guard as well. The 2 photos I posted were of the men coming to relieve.
The one place I DIDN'T visit was the Vietnam Wall. I'm just not very good at that and possibly might never be.
I have photos of Kennedy's grave and stuff too.
I made sure the kids saw the changing of the guard as well. The 2 photos I posted were of the men coming to relieve.
The one place I DIDN'T visit was the Vietnam Wall. I'm just not very good at that and possibly might never be.
I posted some more photos of my trip in the gallery, but they are without any explanation of what they are. IN the next two posts, I'll give some details and PROMISE that these are the last I'll bore you with.
First, this photo deserves a post of it's own.....
A photo of the Gettysburg Address engraved inside the Lincoln Memorial.
A famous speech that was so eloquent in it's simplicity. Abraham Lincoln was invited to the battlefield at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to dedicate a portion of land that would become the battlefield cemetery. The American Civil War was still in progress at the time but nearing an end. He is dedicating the cemetery to the fallen. 7,000 men lost their lives in this one 3 day battle.
He was actually the 2nd speaker there that day. The first speaker talked for 2 hours and no one recalls a word he said. Lincoln wrote this speech on the train en-route to the service. He never thought it would go down in history at the time. He spoke for only 2 minutes but said so much more that this speech has been taught to almost every American school kid.
First, this photo deserves a post of it's own.....
A photo of the Gettysburg Address engraved inside the Lincoln Memorial.
A famous speech that was so eloquent in it's simplicity. Abraham Lincoln was invited to the battlefield at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to dedicate a portion of land that would become the battlefield cemetery. The American Civil War was still in progress at the time but nearing an end. He is dedicating the cemetery to the fallen. 7,000 men lost their lives in this one 3 day battle.
He was actually the 2nd speaker there that day. The first speaker talked for 2 hours and no one recalls a word he said. Lincoln wrote this speech on the train en-route to the service. He never thought it would go down in history at the time. He spoke for only 2 minutes but said so much more that this speech has been taught to almost every American school kid.
A panoramic view of Washington DC from atop the hill at Arlington National Cemetery:
Our hotel was located in the Chinatown section of Washington:
Another shot of my son Ian standing at the doors to the Supreme Court (Ian left college studying pre-law after September 11, 2001 and joined the Marine Corps. After serving in Iraq, he's now off in August to Washington University to study Constitutional Law in their Graduate-Fellowship Program):
A photo of the box seat balcony at Ford's Theater. This is where Abe Lincoln was sitting when he was assassinated:
Another shot of the US Capital Building (those two jerks refused to get out of the picture!):
Lastly, two photos of members of the US Army's Old Guard who walk guard duty 24/7/365 at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery:
Our hotel was located in the Chinatown section of Washington:
Another shot of my son Ian standing at the doors to the Supreme Court (Ian left college studying pre-law after September 11, 2001 and joined the Marine Corps. After serving in Iraq, he's now off in August to Washington University to study Constitutional Law in their Graduate-Fellowship Program):
A photo of the box seat balcony at Ford's Theater. This is where Abe Lincoln was sitting when he was assassinated:
Another shot of the US Capital Building (those two jerks refused to get out of the picture!):
Lastly, two photos of members of the US Army's Old Guard who walk guard duty 24/7/365 at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery:
I'm glad they got to see the changing of the Guard. It is impressive.
I understand about the Wall. I visited it four years ago on St Patrick's Day for the first time when I went to the Gathering of Eagles counter protest rally. Fortunately I had a dear friend and fellow comrade in arms with me. It was hard and I cried like baby.
I understand about the Wall. I visited it four years ago on St Patrick's Day for the first time when I went to the Gathering of Eagles counter protest rally. Fortunately I had a dear friend and fellow comrade in arms with me. It was hard and I cried like baby.
[quote author=Dschief link=topic=9554.msg47816#msg47816 date=1278973344]
Looks like 2 more for the FBI's most wanted list to me.
[/quote]
They acted like they didn't understand they were in the way of the photo.
My Son was going to break them in half, but I told him we'd probably be the ones to get arrested for some type of hate crime.
Looks like 2 more for the FBI's most wanted list to me.
[/quote]
They acted like they didn't understand they were in the way of the photo.
My Son was going to break them in half, but I told him we'd probably be the ones to get arrested for some type of hate crime.
Dschief
Member
[quote author=The Seeker link=topic=9554.msg47819#msg47819 date=1278986253]
They acted like they didn't understand they were in the way of the photo.
My Son was going to break them in half, but I told him we'd probably be the ones to get arrested for some type of hate crime.
[/quote]
They were probably doing some plotting. I mean come on, what are 2 middle eastern guys doing in front of the Capital building!?!
They acted like they didn't understand they were in the way of the photo.
My Son was going to break them in half, but I told him we'd probably be the ones to get arrested for some type of hate crime.
[/quote]
They were probably doing some plotting. I mean come on, what are 2 middle eastern guys doing in front of the Capital building!?!
Great post and pics! Thanks for sharing. :y115:
They are probably on the current administration's staff! :silent:
For those who have never seen it, or are wondering what Carl and I are talking about, here's a video of the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC.
Remember that here in the USA we have no Monarch, so this is the closest we come to such a ceremony. The Tomb of the Unknown houses presently the remains of three US soldiers from three wars (WWI, WWII, & Korea) who were unidentified. They represent all the others who were likewise unable to be IDed. There was once another from Vietnam who was just recently IDed through DNA testing and his remains were then buried by his family.
The tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year regardless of the weather. In fact a few years ago they were given permission to stand down when a hurricane was approaching, but they refused!
It is considered one of the highest honors to serve as a ceremonial guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Fewer than 20% of all volunteers are accepted for training and of those only a fraction pass training to become full-fledged Tomb Guards. The sentinels do not wear rank insignia on their uniforms so that they do not outrank the Unknowns, whatever their rank may have been. Soldiers serving in other roles, like Relief Commander and Assistant Relief Commander, do wear insignia of their rank when changing the guard only. They have a separate uniform worn when they actually guard the Unknowns or are "Posted".
There is a meticulous ritual the guard follows when watching over the graves:
1. The soldier walks 21 steps across the Tomb. This alludes to the 21-gun salute, which is the highest honor given to any military or foreign dignitary in America. His weapon is always on the shoulder opposite the Tomb (i.e., on the side of the gallery watching the ritual).
2. On the 21st step, the soldier turns and faces the Tomb for 21 seconds.
3. The soldier then turns to face the other way across the Tomb and changes his weapon to the outside shoulder.
4. After 21 seconds, the first step is repeated.
This is repeated until the soldier is relieved of duty with the Changing of the Guard.
Arlington Cemetery Changing of the Guard (Full Ceremony)
PS: Early in this video, you can hear gunshots and a bugle playing "taps". Arlington is an active cemetery so there was obviously an interment in progress which featured full military honors.
Remember that here in the USA we have no Monarch, so this is the closest we come to such a ceremony. The Tomb of the Unknown houses presently the remains of three US soldiers from three wars (WWI, WWII, & Korea) who were unidentified. They represent all the others who were likewise unable to be IDed. There was once another from Vietnam who was just recently IDed through DNA testing and his remains were then buried by his family.
The tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year regardless of the weather. In fact a few years ago they were given permission to stand down when a hurricane was approaching, but they refused!
It is considered one of the highest honors to serve as a ceremonial guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Fewer than 20% of all volunteers are accepted for training and of those only a fraction pass training to become full-fledged Tomb Guards. The sentinels do not wear rank insignia on their uniforms so that they do not outrank the Unknowns, whatever their rank may have been. Soldiers serving in other roles, like Relief Commander and Assistant Relief Commander, do wear insignia of their rank when changing the guard only. They have a separate uniform worn when they actually guard the Unknowns or are "Posted".
There is a meticulous ritual the guard follows when watching over the graves:
1. The soldier walks 21 steps across the Tomb. This alludes to the 21-gun salute, which is the highest honor given to any military or foreign dignitary in America. His weapon is always on the shoulder opposite the Tomb (i.e., on the side of the gallery watching the ritual).
2. On the 21st step, the soldier turns and faces the Tomb for 21 seconds.
3. The soldier then turns to face the other way across the Tomb and changes his weapon to the outside shoulder.
4. After 21 seconds, the first step is repeated.
This is repeated until the soldier is relieved of duty with the Changing of the Guard.
Arlington Cemetery Changing of the Guard (Full Ceremony)
PS: Early in this video, you can hear gunshots and a bugle playing "taps". Arlington is an active cemetery so there was obviously an interment in progress which featured full military honors.
Outstanding, AJ. Though I never had the privilege of serving with the Old Guard, I served with friends who did. The Old Guard has a very unique mission which includes the ground defense of Washington, DC. In addition to the training for guarding the Tomb of the Unknowns and performing funerals and color guard details, they are well honed in combat skills and the necessary training to protect the DC area.
Unless I am mistaken, they are attached to Fort Myer right adjacent to Arlington Cemetery aren't they?
I once met a young man that was one of the Colonial Guard who do some of the military honors at Arlington as well. They're the ones that wear the colonial uniforms and 3 pointed hats. I'm not sure of how or under what circumstances they are used.
Although I'm not a fan of the current President, I was very pleased to be informed that shortly after his taking office, he wrote a Presidential Directive that ALL current active duty KIA of Iraq or Afghanistan may be buried at Arlington, regardless of their rank.
I once met a young man that was one of the Colonial Guard who do some of the military honors at Arlington as well. They're the ones that wear the colonial uniforms and 3 pointed hats. I'm not sure of how or under what circumstances they are used.
Although I'm not a fan of the current President, I was very pleased to be informed that shortly after his taking office, he wrote a Presidential Directive that ALL current active duty KIA of Iraq or Afghanistan may be buried at Arlington, regardless of their rank.
Yes, The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (Old Guard) is based at Ft Myer.
If I am not mistaken, that directive is a continuation of a directive issued by the previous administration.
I know of the Colonial Guard and have seen them. I forget which unit they are a part of.
If I am not mistaken, that directive is a continuation of a directive issued by the previous administration.
I know of the Colonial Guard and have seen them. I forget which unit they are a part of.
