Gratitude

We arrived in the Washington, DC area around noon and found a spot at a campground we had previously stayed at a few years ago - Cherry Hill in College Park, MD.  The Metro bus comes right into the campground and one of the stops is at a Metro subway station, which is just what we needed because we aren't towing a car.

We settled into our site, had a quick lunch and boarded the bus.  We're only here for one night and we've both been to DC a few times.  We knew the commute between the bus and the subway would take at least an hour so we had to pick just one place to go.  We picked Arlington Cemetery.  

There are many famous people buried there - JFK, RFK, EMK, Jackie O, Abner Doubleday, Audie Murphy and Joe Louis, but the most notable are the every day men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom - those who died in combat and those who served in the military.  From the American Civil War to the military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.  From 3800 former slaves to 4 star generals.  From memorials to those who died on the USS Maine to the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger.  Hallowed ground...somber...reverent...peaceful.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers...WW I, WW II, Korea and Viet Nam.  They are there... perpetually guarded since 1937.

If you served our country, thank you.  If you're currently serving, thank you.  We are grateful.