On Sacred Ground

We left for our Spring Break trip this year on a Friday night after one of Este's soccer games. There were a million reasons for us not to go and only one reason for us to make the trip: our time together as a family is limited.

We headed out on one of our epic road trips at night which is the hardest time to leave and set off towards the East.  I slept right through Arkansas. Aaron was exhausted by 3:00am. I was the next driver in line. I drove across the Mississippi River and through the city of Memphis. I was so excited. Shortly thereafter, I was so tired. Este was the next driver in line. He drove us to Nashville just as the sun came up. My dad served as a missionary in Nashville many years ago. I wanted to call my dad to let him know I was in Nashville.  The problem is, that it would have been 5:30 am in Utah and I didn't think he would want a phone call that early in the morning. When I called him a few hours later, he confirmed my decision. While he was happy that I was in Tennessee, he was grateful that I didn't call in the wee hours of the morning to let him know.

As we drove along  past Knoxville we saw why the Smoky Mountains are called smoky. We loved the rolling farmland in the Shenandoah Valley. (Who knew that Virginia was so rural?)  That is the best part of road trips, seeing the changes in the country side as we drive along.  A reminder to enjoy the journey. As we came down out of the mountains and into the traffic before we knew it we could the Washington Monument, then Arlington Cemetery. We drove past the Pentagon, and across the Potomac river. We had arrived at our destination: Washington DC.

The next morning we found a ward and attended Sacrament Meeting. I love visiting different wards when we travel. I love seeing how each ward is different yet, I find comfort in how each ward is the same. I love the fact that where ever you go in the church, the doctrine is the same. After church we went to the nearby Washington DC temple.

The grounds were beautiful! Vanessa had to pose for several pictures.

We took pictures as a family outside the beautiful exterior doors.

We took another "Touched by The Temple" photo. (I sense a family tradition in the making.)

Aaron admired the trees and spring flowers.

AJ also admired the trees but got stuck in process.

As always I was reminded how much I LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE!

Our next stop was Arlington National Cemetery. This was one of my favorite stops on our trip.

It is said of Arlington, "Here are buried Presidents and privates, five-star generals and anonymous souls known but to God, Here too are buried more than 370 recipients of the Medal of Honor, and ten times that many Civil War "contraband's" - fugitive or liberated slaves - whose headstones are chiseled with the simple epitaph "citizen" or "civilian." Arlington today holds dead veterans from every American war since the Revolution, including several hundred buried from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan who are buried in Section 60, perhaps the saddest acre in America today." (Where Valor Rests: Arlington National Cemetery, Essay by Rick Atkinson)

I thought often of the younger brother of a friend of ours who was a Navy Seal killed in Afghanistan this past year. He is buried here in Arlington. I thought of their family here for the funeral. It made it all very personal and real for me. There are between 27-30 funerals at Arlington every day.

Ethan told me he pictured a person standing by each of the markers for that is what they represented. It was a humbling experience. I'm so grateful that my children could appreciate this.

This is the view from Arlington  across the Potomac River towards Washington DC.

Here is a photo of the Eternal Flame (that is not really visible in the photo) at the burial site of JFK who was killed 50 years ago this November in Dallas. The city of Dallas is planning several events to commemorate the assassination.

His burial site contained some of his most famous quotes.

 

We went to Arlington straight after visiting the Temple so we were still in our Sunday best. We stood out as a family walking around DC as it was, when we were dressed up, it was even more so. We had several people comment on how nice our family looked. I was grateful to show respect in look and in attitude.

This is one of our favorite photos of the trip. 

Our next stop at Arlington was the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Below is a photo of the Amphitheater.

Behind the amphitheater is the sarcophagus  that reads, "HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD" The Marble slabs commemorate unidentified remains from Word War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

We happened to be in an area where we had the best view of the changing of the guard. I took over 100 pictures in this short ceremony. Here are some of the highlights.

The ceremony includes a full uniform and gun inspection before each sentinel can take his post. It takes hours for the soldier to prepare for his post. He  will polish his brass and boots, press and starch his uniform,  and carefully oil his gun. He is a member of the "Old Guard" one of the highest and most prestigious ranks in the military.

 Each step of the 21 step and turn routine is calculated with perfect precision. You can see where the walk has been worn with each step every day and night, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in spite of the weather conditions.

The previous sentinel is relieved of his post. As a sentinel guard he has "walked the mat" for up to an hour at a time.

I will never forget the honor and appreciation I have for the men and women who have sacrificed for my freedom. I will never forget those  who have sacrificed so that I can believe how and what I may. There are so many things I will never forget. Including this day on sacred ground. in two different sites in our nation's capitol.