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Arlington National Cemetery June 2018 Photo by Clynnwersch-
Top 10 Sensational Facts about the Arlington National Cemetery
The Arlington National Cemetery is a national cemetery owned by the United States Department of the Army. The cemetery covers 639 acres as per reports of early 2020. Arlington Cemetery is located in Arlington County, Virginia.
The cemetery is on a hilltop and overlooks the Potomac River and Washington, D.C. Get to know the most amazing realities of the Arlington National Cemetery in these top 10 listings.
1. Arlington National Cemetery was once
owned by the first U.S. President
Arlington House at the Arlington National Cemetery Photo by Protoant-
The Arlington Cemetery was plantation land. The owner was George Washington Parke Custis. George Cutis was the adopted son of President George Washington and grandson of Martha Washington.
Cutis inherited the land in 1802 and constructed the Arlington House in honour of his father. He named it after the village he came from-Arlington, England. Cutis willed the property to Mary Anna his daughter.
Mary inherited the property with no right to sell it as it was a living inheritance. Mary was married to Robert E. Lee a U.S. Army officer. She left the estate to her eldest son George Washington Custis Lee as an inheritance.
During the civil war, the Lees were forced out of their estate. The army was overwhelmed by the soldiers that died around Washington in the Civil war.
The nearby cemeteries were full. So, Lee鈥檚 property was a good fit and the army took it. They conducted the first military burial at Arlington, on May 13, 1864, for William Henry Christman.
Custis Lee filed a lawsuit claiming ownership of the Arlington estate. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in his favour on 9, December 1882. The estate was returned to him by Congress on 3, March 1883.
Custis Lee sold the property to the government. The signing ceremony was overseen by then-Secretary of War Robert Todd Lincoln. The military took over the land from then on.
2. Arlington became a national cemetery in the year 1864
The Arlington National Cemetery was declared a national cemetery by Edwin Stanton the then Secretary of War. The declaration was made on 15, June 1864.
The military first burial at Arlington was of William Christman on May 13, 1864. Christman died of measles after a short service in the 67th Pennsylvania Infantry. Christman鈥檚 burial happened a month before Arlington was made a national cemetery.
3. Arlington National Cemetery is a resting place for veterans
There are over 400, 000 people buried at Arlington cemetery. Veterans of different capacities are given a dignitary rest in the cemetery. They are united by their service to the United States.
The people buried at Arlington are such as the Civil war, World War I and II, and Vietnam war victims. Medal of honour recipients is included. Others are federal government high ranking officials and their family members.
Militants that fall in the line of duty or after retirement are also honoured for a final rest at Arlington cemetery. There are African-Americans buried in Section 27 of the cemetery and they lived in Freedman鈥檚 Village.
4. The Arlington Cemetery conducts an estimated 30 daily funerals
Arlington National Cemetery Photo by Clifford-
Arlington cemetery daily is estimated to hold 30 funeral services except for Sundays. The Saturday services are conducted for cremated remains or placements that may not need military honour or military chaplain help.
The demand for services is high resulting in a wait time of four to seven months. The need for services is about 35 requests made every day.
5. Arlington Cemetery has a tomb of the unknown soldier
Wreaths laid for Veterans Day rest at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery Photo by Arlington National Cemetery-
The 34th U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower on 3, August 1956 signed a bill into law. The purpose of the bill was to honour the fallen soldiers of World War I and II. Vietnam and Korean fallen soldiers were also inclusive.
The unidentified fallen militants were granted a designated area at the Arlington National Cemetery. The area is marked as the tomb of the unknown soldier.
Representative soldiers from World War I, II, Korea and Vietnam war were selected. One soldier chosen from each war was buried in the tomb of the unknown soldier.
The Vietnam war representative was exhumed and DNA tests identified him as Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie. His family requested to have his body and they were allowed to return him home. His place was left vacant and only three bodies remain at Arlington.
6. The Arlington Cemetery鈥檚 most guarded place is the tomb of the unknown soldier
The tomb of the unknown soldier is always guarded. There are tomb guards stationed in the area and there is not a time the tomb is not manned even in bad weather.
The changing of the guard happens every hour on the hour from 1 October to 31 March. It happens every half hour from 1 April to 30 September.
While changing guard, they do 21 paces marching in front of the tomb. Then face the east direction and the north direction. On both east and north-facing, they are at attention for 21 seconds in either direction. The final march is 21 paces back.
When tomb guards are not marching they spent their time in quarters below the Memorial Display Room. It is part of the Memorial Amphitheater.
While in the quarters they clean their weapons, help the relief guards prepare for the changing of the guard and study cemetery history.
7. Arlington Cemetery only has two U.S. Presidents buried there
President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis are interments at Arlington cemetery. President William Howard Taft and his wife Helen Herron Taft are also rested in the memorial.
8. The Arlington National Cemetery eternal flame
John F. Kennedy’s eternal flame after 2013 upgrade Photo by Tim Evanson-
The eternal flame was lit by Mrs Kennedy in honour of her husband the U.S. President John Kennedy after his death. The flame was first lit on 20, July 1967. It flames from the head of his grave fitted at the centre of a 5-foot flat stone. Kennedy鈥檚 grave can be accessed for public viewing.
9. Arlington National Cemetery hosted the first national Memorial Day
The known as Decorations Day was changed to Memorial Day. President Herbert Hoover led the first ceremony of Memorial day on 30 May 1868. The ceremony was conducted at the Arlington National Cemetery.
10. The flags at Arlington Cemetery are not always at half-mast
Arlington Cemetery flags are half-staff half an hour before the first funeral service. They remain so until half an hour after the final service.
The Arlington National Cemetery has grown over time from estimated 200 acres to 639 acres going by early 2020 reports. Hence making navigating the cemetery difficult. But, the Arlington Cemetery鈥檚 mobile and web app launched in 2013 makes navigation easy.
The app allows viewing of any grave at the cemetery. It also makes burial information available. The headstones and memorials back and front photos are also included.
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