The Passport Project: Arlington National Cemetery.

Today we ventured out to Arlington National Cemetery, where we visited President Kennedy’s eternal flame and President Taft’s memorial gravesite, and paid our respects to thousands of our fallen countrymen and –women. I’ve been to the cemetery several times before, but each time I go I’m awed anew at the sacrifice so many have paid over the years, and with each visit I’m rendered speechless at the heroes whose names I see engraved on each and every headstone.

Along with the cemetery itself, we also visited the Arlington House, former home of Robert E. and Mary Lee. The house itself is currently undergoing extensive restoration, so nearly all of the furniture has been removed from its rooms and won’t be replaced for several more years. However, the current tour setup is such that we were able to walk through rooms we’d only been able to spy from hallways, which was a treat. We were even able to stand in the exact spot where the Lees were married all those years ago!

The house is surrounded by gardens, which are lush even during this autumnal weather. But perhaps the most interesting – and sobering – aspect of the gardens is the fact that they were the impetus behind the cemetery; Union troops began burying their dead in Mrs. Lee’s rose garden once the National Cemetery in Alexandria was full during the Civil War. Interesting times, indeed.

During our visit, we picked up cancellations for the George Washington Parkway: Arlington (for that’s the road we took to get to the cemetery), Arlington House: Robert E. Lee Memorial, and the Underground Railroad Freedom Network. The visitor’s center also had a cancellation for the Marine Corps War Memorial, but we didn’t visit today, so that stamp will have to wait!

Some photos of our visit are below.