Arlington National Cemetery, Washington DC

Arlington National Cemetery, Washington DC

The Arlington National Cemetery is a military burial ground on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington DC.

The Arlington National Cemetery is a military burial ground on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington DC. The largest military cemetery in the USA, it is the final resting place of more than 400,000 martyrs and veterans, from the American Revolutionary War to Iraq and Afghanistan. Notable graves include those of ●US Presidents John F Kennedy and William Tuft, ●Astronauts Capt. Michael Smith and the team on Space Shuttle Challenger as well as those on Space Shuttle Columbia, ●'Rough Riders' of the Spanish-American War, and ●Civil War Unknowns.

The highlight is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on top of the hill, a white Yule marble sarcophagus with neoclassical pilasters at the corners and along the sides. It holds the mortal remains of unknown soldiers from the World Wars, Korean War and Vietnam War. The sides also have 6 wreaths, each representing the six major campaigns of World War I. The east panel has Greek figures symbolizing Peace, Victory, and Valor. The back of the Tomb is inscribed with the words - Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God. The tomb is part of the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater, a circular marble colonnaded structure that hosts ceremonies to honor American service members. The Memorial Display Room between the amphitheater and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier displays plaques and other tributes presented in honor of the military members interred at the Tomb. A small chapel is beneath the Amphitheater stage.

Half a mile to the north on a hilltop is the Greek Revival style Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial. Originally built to be a living memorial to George Washington, the grounds were taken over by the federal government in 1864 to serve as a burial site for Civil War soldiers. Over the years, the house was also used as a plantation estate and home to 63 slaves, a military headquarters and a community for emancipated slaves. The preserved historic home is open for public tours daily.

The 'Changing of the Guard' takes place every half hour in summer from April through September, and every hour the rest of the year.