Friday, we flexed our public transportation skills and road the red line to it's northern terminus -- Glenmont. We started with the bus to the Ballston Metro Stop in Arlington and then the orange line to Metro Center where we caught the red line. In Glenmont, our niece's husband, Mike, picked us up to go to their house in Ellicott City. They bought the house last May and moved in over the summer. It was a great chance to see their house. Mike and Erica have a 2-year old, Nora. It was fun seeing her in her home space. We see them in Ohio when everyone is back for a special events or holidays. Our other niece, Allie, and her fiancée, Andrew, live in Columbia, Maryland which is close to Ellicott City, and they joined us for dinner as well. We enjoyed our visit, but it was around 3 hours of travel time by bus, subway, and car to get there and back. We spent longer travelling then we spent visiting with them.
Saturday started out bright and sunny. Our plan was to walked the 2 1/2 miles to the Old Post Chapel Gate (This is a back entrance to Arlington National Cemetery). Thom mapped our route, but he failed to notice that we had to go through the Joint Base Myer -Henderson Hall. This is an army base with functions to respond to crisis, disasters, or security requirements in the National Capital Region. It also provides both base operations and a variety of specialized support to the Army and other Defense Department organizations.
We walked a little further and saw the Old Post Chapel and the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery. Even through this was a back entrance it was still very impressive. We started walking down the path toward the welcome center, but we stopped at Arlington House. I did not expect to learn so much history at Arlington National Cemetery, but there is so much I didn't know about "these hallowed grounds".
Arlington Cemetery was established as the National Cemetery in June 15, 1964. On May 13, 1864, the first military burial was conducted for Private William Christman. The property originally belonged to George Washington's adopted grandson George Washington Parke Curtis. Curtis's daughter, Mary, married 1st Lieutenant Robert E. Lee in 1831. Mary inherited Arlington House when her father died. At the start of the Civil War, the Lees abandoned the property and the U.S. Army seized the property as strategic defense site for Washington D.C.
Toward the end of the Civil War, the estate also became the location of a Freedman's Village and remained a functioning community until 1900. Arlington House and it's remaining slave quarters are now a national park site within Arlington Cemetery. It is interesting to think that the estate of former slave owners with connections George Washington is now our national cemetery.
The views of Washington DC were really amazing from Arlington House, which sits on a knoll overlooking the Potomac River. You can see Washington and Lincoln's Monuments, the Capitol Building, and even the Kennedy Center from the porch of Arlington House.
John F. Kennedy's gravesite is below the knoll where Arlington House sits. We visited Kennedy's gravesite. I didn't remember hearing about Patrick Kennedy, who was born prematurely in August of 1963. His gravestone is there along with Jackie who died in 1994. There was also a gravestone for Baby Daughter, who was stillborn in 1957. They had planned to name Arabella, but the gravestone said only "Baby Daughter". There is an eternal flame that was lit by Jackie burning at the gravesite.
Another grave site of note, is Mary Randolph. This gravesite is surrounded by a low brick wall and is located as you walk down the steps away from Arlington House toward the main entrance to the cemetery. She was the first person recorded to be buried in the cemetery in 1828. She was a cousin to George Washington Parke Curtis. Mary's ancestors also included Jamestown settler John Rolfe and Pocahontas, who married to John in 1614.
We went to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and saw the changing of the guard. The tomb and the amphitheater were impressive as was the changing of the guard. The amphitheater was dedicated on May 15, 1920. Memorial Day services are held at the Memorial Amphitheater to honor American service members. The president of the United States traditionally gives an address during Memorial Day ceremonies at the amphitheater.
After seeing the major sites at the cemetery, we finally made it to the visitors center, which is located at the main gates to the cemetery. The visitors center was decorated for the holidays and had photo displays with information on the history of Arlington National Cemetery.
The visitor's center was our last stop. We headed back the way we had come to the Old Post Chapel Gate, as they told us the other gate at the back was closed today. After that we headed home and had time for Porter and Augie (the neighbor's dog) to play in the yard a bit before dinner.
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