Christmas in Arlington

Shortly before Christmas we heard of an incredible organization called Wreaths Across America (http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/) that gathers volunteers to lay wreaths at veterans' cemetaries all across America on a Saturday in the month of December. It began when a man who owned a wreath company in Maine had an excess of wreaths in 1992 and decided to lay them on the graves in the least visited sections of Arlington. Since then the project has gown so that now wreaths are laid all over Arlington as well as cemetaries all over the country.
Of course when we heard about it we had to go and see for ourselves. I can honestly say that it was our favorite visit to Arlington.

We started by getting a car pass so we could drive through the cemetary (we are learning things in our time here!)...


Our first stop is always to see Mark and Ian and pay our respects to them. And right next to Mark's grave is a tree that was decorated with ornaments from visitors and families of those who rest here. I don't know who hangs the ornaments, but we read a few and there were a lot of messages from small children with Christmas wishes.


As we walked around the section we noticed that a lot of people leave gifts for their loved ones for Christmas. We don't know this Marine, but Ben noticed the beer and Copenhagen that was left and we both had to smile about the unique "gift".


Finally, we traveled up to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for the change of the guard. Andrea and Travis had come with us for this trip and we all thought it was very special to witness the ceremony on Christmas Eve. Little did we know we would see it just as it began to snow. You can't see it in the photo, but believe me we felt it! It was amazing yet again to know that these amazing soldiers perform this ceremony 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Following the ceremony we got to take the short walk back to our warm car, but those soldiers continue to march - amazing.

It is very heartwrenching to think of all of these families who spend the holidays without their soldier. All these families who leave little gifts to show they remember. I believe that this visit is a tradition that Ben and I will continue for as long as we live here. And I wouldn't be surprised if next year Ben has a special something to leave for Mark and Ian for Christmas as well.