Not just about BBQ and beer . . .

😎

+1 Million

The best expression that I've heard someone write/say on what Memorial Day should be about is; "An occasion of sacred bereavement". 🌫

Great pic. Ty.

Spent good portion of yesterday with my wife in Arlington National Cemetery. Been there dozens of times, but first time I went inside the Womens Service Memorial. Well worth your time if you visit ANC.

Memorial Day, the day when we backwoods boys go up to our local cemetery and clean up the graves of the last generation’s fallen heroes. Our town has been fortunate to not bury anyone from Iraq or Afghanistan. They all have come home. We also do a bbq for them at the local grange hall. My sister finally went to it this year.

+1

As a retiree... I know I can be cremated and placed above ground in an urn, but I think to actually be interred you have to meet other requirements. Maybe certain awards like the CMH, Purple Heart or some such... not sure, but I know the rules are more stringent to be buried with honors there.

Did you take the recent DOD survey asking input on admittance to Arlington. They are running out of space and wanted opinions on admittance criteria.

Amen!

To Those Who Didn't Make it Home:

Indeed I did...

A picture is worth a thousand words.

If you took the survey last year, take another look....there's a follow-up survey this year:
https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/eligibility-survey 

My wife and I have planned for above ground internment in the ANC Columbarium. I was surprised that the survey indicated that those spaces might run out even before plots. Seems a pretty efficient use of space -- perhaps they should allot more of the plot space to enlarge the Columbarium.

Done. Thanks, Dave.

Personally, I don't have a strong opinion for being buried in ANC myself. We have a few military cemetaries in the SoCal area. I think it'd be better for the environment if I was cremated and my ashes scattered at sea so the fishes could take their revenge and eat me.

I'm with you. I'd always felt the same.

However, Tami has spent thousands of hours in ANC these past several years -- mostly accompanying Honor Flights and shooting funerals. In fact, I doubt there's many people outside of ANC staff and the Old Guard who have spent more time there -- at least living folks 🙂

So, it has become incredibly special and personal for her.

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There was a time that I was sure I wanted to be buried at sea.....if only because I knew what a huge amount of work it was.....figured I could still find a way to be a huge PITA even after I went

A little more detail about HM3 Youngblood.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14286761/travis-l.-youngblood