Arlington National Cemetery: Courage and service, bravery and sacrifice

Cemeteries are hallowed places of solemn reverence where the chronicled past lingers on in every memorialized name etched in stone.

They may be crucial catalysts to explore and discover a deeper understanding of one’s history and heritage, specially of those who shaped the world we live in today.

Such was the circumstance during our recent revisit to Arlington National Cemetery — a site that is not just a final resting place, but a vast, living memorial to American service and sacrifice.

Beautifully nestled on the rolling hills in Arlington in the state of Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., a mere 10-minute drive from the nation’s capital, Arlington National Cemetery spans 639 acres and is home to more than 400,000 military service members, veterans, and their families. It offers a solemn yet awe-inspiring journey through American history.

Here are five places you should not miss:

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

A revered spot of ultimate honor, it carries the remains of unidentified American service members from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Dedicated in 1921, it stands as a tribute to all those who offer their lives in wars but were never identified.

The white marble sarcophagus, bears the inscription “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.” It is a powerful reminder of the losses made in the name of freedom.

The Changing of the Guard

Stay on for a little longer, for just in front of the sacred tomb, the Changing of the Guard is a precise and disciplined ritual by the elite Sentinels of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard.

Every hour in the winter and every 30 minutes in the summer, a lone guard marches exactly 21 steps before pausing for 21 seconds — a nod to the highest military honor: the 21-gun salute.

The accuracy, the silent respect, the sheer gravitas of the moment — it is something you must witness in person.

Audie Murphy’s Tombstone

In a cemetery filled with devoted warriors, one name stands out: Audie Murphy — the most decorated soldier of World War II.

A war hero, actor and author, Murphy was awarded every U.S. military combat award for valor, including the Medal of Honor. Yet his tombstone is a study in simplicity — just white marble, modest and understated, much like the legendary man himself.

The Kennedy Gravesite

Originally, only President John F. Kennedy was laid to rest here in 1963, his grave marked by the Eternal Flame — a symbol of his continuing legacy.

Today, he is joined by spouse Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and two of their infant children, plus brothers Robert F. Kennedy and Edward “Ted” Kennedy. A visit is both heartbreaking and humbling, a reminder of a family that changed the course of American history.

Arlington House

Perched on a hill just above JFK’s final resting place, the abode was once the home of Confederate General Robert E. Lee before the Civil War. Today, it serves as a museum, offering breathtaking views of Washington, D.C., and a poignant reflection on how a nation once divided found its way forward united.