Arlington: A place to honor and remember - even in snow storms

Photo Credit: Kaitlin Horst, Arlington National Cemetery.

Arlington National Cemetery sits under a blanket of snow after a storm dumped nearly 24 inches of snow on across much of the region. (source)

(pictures courtesy of the Arlington FaceBook page)


As most of Washington, DC ground to a halt during the recent snow storms, one very special place in America's history continued honouring our fallen heroes:

Some Funerals at Arlington National Cemetery Postponed Due to Snow

Thursday, February 11, 2010
By JENNIFER HLAD

AP

Feb. 9: The U.S. Marine Corps firing party fires one of three volleys during a service for Marine Sgt. David J. Smith at Arlington National Cemetery.

ANNAPOLIS — Arlington National Cemetery's perfect rows of white gravestones were completely covered with snow by Wednesday afternoon, but funerals for America's fallen servicemen and women continued.

The cemetery — usually open 365 days a year — has been closed to the public all week because of two snow storms that hit the Washington area in the last week, said John C. Metzler, the cemetery's superintendent. Fifteen funerals scheduled for Wednesday and another 15 scheduled for Thursday were rescheduled for later dates. But the choice is up to the families, he said.

The ice has made the cemetery's roads too dangerous for horses and ceremonial marchers, and snow has covered the gravesites. So the funerals this week — 19 Monday, 13 Tuesday, three Wednesday and eight Thursday — were moved indoors.... (reads more here)

Arlington may well have been closed to the public, but as Bob Lonsberry reminds us, the guards there still perform their sacred duty:

LAST NIGHT IN THE STORM IN WASHINGTON

I love Washington, D.C.

When I see the buildings and monuments, and reflect on what they mean and who they represent, it touches my heart.

It is an inspiring, wonderful place.

I feel the spirit of America there.

Every American should go to the nation's capital at least once. Every American should walk up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and stare upward at the Washington Monument, pose in front of the Capitol and the Supreme Court, and peer through the wrought-iron fence at the White House.

If you can ignore the politicians, Washington is a sacred place to Americans.

But the best part of Washington actually isn't in Washington.

It's across the big river, in Arlington. On Robert E. Lee's old farm. What was originally a grandson's loving tribute to George Washington was siezed by the Union Army in the Civil War and became our nation's most revered burying ground.

That's what I've thought about as the blizzard has blown across the TV screen. As this second big storm buries the nation's capital in unaccustomed snow, and the evening news has shown us questionable city officials and stalwart city residents, as I have seen people shoveling snow and unburying cars, I have wondered about Arlington[...]

And the marble temple of gratitude in front of the Tomb of the Unknowns.

That's what I've thought about as they've reported on this blizzard.

As the snow fell an inch an hour, as the government shut down and the offices closed, as this great city was brought to its knees, I've thought about that cemetery and that tomb.

Because, though still, it is not unguarded.[...]

And so it is that in the greatest metaphorical statement our nation makes about its defenders, a member of the Old Guard, an enlisted soldier, stands silent watch day and night, every day of the year, no matter what.

Even in a storm like this.

And to be sure, I called my congressman's office. He checked and, yes, in the height of this storm, while everything else shut down, the guard was on duty. When the planes couldn't fly and the Congress couldn't meet. When the bureaucrats stayed home and the government offices were dark. While all the region was holed up and warm, a lone soldier with a rifle on his shoulder marched back and forth in front of the Tomb. ...

Lonsberry has written a beautiful column, which is a lyrical tribute to those who guard our cherished heroes. As you look out into your neighbourhoods knee (or more) deep in that white stuff, give thanks for those who - as Lonsberry puts it - 'march for us all."

Go read it here.

Is nothing sacred? HBO to Disrespect Mormons

Freedom of the press is touted all over America, as is freedom of expression. However, along with those freedoms comes a great responsibility, too. Comes a piece via CJ at A Soldiers Perspective that shows that our media is incapable of exercising that responsibility, not to mention common decency:

Off Topic: HBO to Disrespect Mormons
March 10th, 2009 by CJ

As most or all of you know, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (a "Mormon"). While I have NEVER been happy with their "Big Love" series, I've never made it an issue. They are free to air whatever they think will sell as entertainment. What are they harming?

However, HBO has gone over the line with its decision to air an episode depicting our sacred temple ceremonies. Notice I said sacred and not secret. There is nothing secret about what we do in the temple and every worthy person in the world is capable of taking part themselves.

But the fact is that these ceremonies are very sacred and do NOT belong in the public spotlight. It is a flagrant attack on our religion to disrespect our beliefs in such a way. The network relied on excommunicated members and critics of the church for their research into the subject and never asked for church permission in airing this episode.

Then, HBO has the audacity to "apologize" for their "disrespectful" depiction yet will air the episode regardless. Some apology. Let's face it, these ceremonies are available all over the internet thanks to former members of the church who violated their vows to keep these things sacred. That is not, however, tacit approval to continue the despicable act of further bringing the public into our private, sacred ordinances.

HBO has created some AWESOME series as they relate to the military and our troops. But, if they air this episode I will NEVER again promote one of their projects regardless of the subject matter. Here is the letter I sent to the network a few days ago:...

Go read what CJ has to say here.

Others have weighed in, too. Lonsberry has more than a few choice words for the folks at HBO:

TOM HANKS GETS PAYBACK FOR PROP 8

It's payback for Proposition 8.

Tom Hanks, who savaged Mormons for supporting California's vote to ban gay marriage, will hold their most sacred sacraments up to public scorn on national television this weekend.

Never argue with a man who's got his own HBO series.

Because he will play hardball.

And he will prove that nothing is sacred. Or that nothing which is sacred is beyond the reach of his dirty, defiling fingers.

Here's the background.

In November, there was a proposition on the California ballot that sought to overturn that state's court-ordered gay marriages. It was an effort to let the people be heard on a fundamental social question.

There was fervent campaigning on both sides. Liberal and entertainment leaders poured money into the state in support of gay marriage. Religious people did the same in opposition to gay marriage.

Some of those religious people were Mormon.

Most of them were Catholic, a fair number were Evangelicals, and many of them were black or Latino. But some of them were Mormon. And when Proposition 8 passed – when the people of California said they did not want gay marriage – it was the Mormons who were scapegoated.

Mormon churches were picketed, Mormon business people were boycotted, disruptive demonstrations were held outside Mormon temples in Los Angeles, New York and Salt Lake City.

Gay activists and their supporters took their rage out on all things Mormon, in spite of the fact that the largest bloc of voters supporting Proposition 8 were conservative Catholics, and the deciding bloc of voters were Latinos and African-Americans – who came out in record numbers to support Barack Obama.

But the Mormons got targeted.

Including by Tom Hanks.

He said that Mormon efforts were “un-American” and he chastised the religion and its members.

Which might have been the end of it, except for his TV show and maybe a little bit of history. That history being the fact that Tom Hanks' step-mom became a Mormon when he was a boy and that seems to have contributed to friction and eventual break up in the home....

You can find the rest of this one here. This is wrong on any level and I have to wonder what would happen in our "land of the free" if those idiots at HBO decided to do a programme like this about the Muslims. Oh wait - no need to wonder; we all KNOW!