Arlington National Cemetery, 2011

Ten years ago this month we went to Washington, DC, which was the entire focus of the week-long trip. That had some advantages, especially since DC has a decent network of subway lines. We went everywhere by subway, including Arlington National Cemetery. Once there, shuttle buses run a loop around the grounds. Good thing, since the cemetery covers 639 acres.

President Kennedy drew a crowd.Arlington National Cemetery

Robert Kennedy isn’t far away, marked with a small stone and a cross.
Arlington National Cemetery - RFK

President Taft, the other U.S. chief executive buried in the cemetery, did not draw a crowd.Arlington National Cemetery - Taft

The memorial to the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia. An elegant design.
Arlington National Cemetery - Columbia
The memorial to the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Not an elegant design.Arlington National Cemetery - Challenger

Mainly because of the faces. The more you look at them, the worse they become.
Arlington National Cemetery - Challenger

Remember the Maine.Arlington National Cemetery - Maine

Arlington National Cemetery - Maine

Audie Murphy. I hadn’t remembered that he died that young; airplane crash.Arlington National Cemetery - Audie Murphy

Other noteworthy stones we happened across. Ones I did, anyway. Not sure anyone else noticed as I took pictures.Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery - Oscar York
Army brass. Among others, Gen. Alexander “I’m in control” Haig in the foreground, and Gen. Omar Bradley, with his five stars, not far away.

The Tomb of the Unknown Solider.
Arlington National Cemetery - Unknown Soldier
Arlington National Cemetery - Unknown Soldier
Arlington National Cemetery - Unknown Soldier
Here are the girls, goofing around at the nearby amphitheater.
Arlington National Cemetery

Hope the trip made some kind of impression.