Photos

What is this? An Akropolis atop a distant hill? Some ancient Greek temple looming on the high horizon?

Not at all, this is the Lee House at the National Cemetary of the United States in Arlington, Virginia.

When you look up from John F. Kennedy's grave and eternal flame, you see this once private residence of General Robert E. Lee, who fought for the South in the Americn Civil War, after having been given the chance to fight for the North.

Though originally I wish I could have cut out the flagpole, if you look very closely, there is a small American flag, hanging at half-mast, as it does every single day of the year in this very special place.

Though Arlington National Cemetery is not small, not anyone, not even any US soldier, sailor, airman or marine is automatically buried here. As you can imagine it requires a great deal of patience and paperwork....

The sea of white crosses and stars of David which seems to flow over the hills and vales of the cemetary are simply immense and of course very moving. Just to imagine the amount of grief and suffering that has occurred here on a daily basis and continues to do so in perpetuity, makes one pause and think of all the heroic lives that have been lived and have ended on these deep green hills.

If at all possible, a visitor to Washington, DC really ought to include this place in their itinerary!

This picture I have listed under the "ceremony" category, as this is a rather calm view set in a location where on average twenty three full miitary funeral take place every day, many with a horse-drawn cortege and full military honor guard. The short time we were in this place two of these processions passed us by....