Arlington National Cemetery may be the most famous cemetery in the United States, maybe in the world. Tourists take a quick detour from their D.C. trip to see the cemetery, crossing over the Potomac River into Virginia. Whether it’s to see the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, JFK’s gravesite, or the many headstones, a fairly large amount of people come here.
Which led to a weird feeling when I went to visit. As my roommate and I were walking through the entrance, we saw some tram cars, which give people a tour around the cemetery. People were dressed in t-shirts, shorts, some in tank tops. And the first thought that came into our minds was that it felt like an amusement park. Try to imagine this: there’s thousands of graves, all around you, and yet it was so easy to forget that fact, that these represent dead men and women who bravely served our country.
It really is a beautiful place, one that remembers and honors those that served our country. I hope that every person who steps onto those hallowed grounds will show the respect that is deserved.