A grateful nation honoring the known and the unknown: Veterans Day 2009

I took this photo on a cold, crisp morning in December of last year. This stark and simple monument, on the eastern plaza of the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery, commands a breathtaking view of our nation’s capital. The city of Washington, in the District of Columbia (my birthplace), can be seen in the distance. Known as the Tomb of the Unknowns, the white marble sarcophagus has three Greek figures, representing Peace, Victory, and Valor, sculpted into the east panel which faces Washington. On Nov. 11, 1921, the Unknown Soldier from World War I was interred at the site. President Warren G. Harding officiated at the ceremonies. The Unknown Soldier was meant to be symbolic of all service members who lost their lives during World War I, “The Great War, the war to end all wars.” In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill to pay tribute to the unknowns of World War II and Korea. The interment of these unknowns took place in 1958. After a final selection process, each received the Medal of Honor and they were placed beside their comrade from World War I. On Memorial Day in 1984, President Reagan presided over the presentation of the Medal of Honor to the Vietnam Unknown and interment. (After the Vietnam remains were identified in 1998, it was decided that the crypt that contained the remains of the Vietnam Unknown will remain vacant.)

Veterans and their family members, representing our nation’s wars from the American Civil War to today’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, are all buried here. Covering 624 acres of rolling Virginia hillsides, more than 300,000 people are buried in Arlington.

Later today, President Barack Obama will come here to take part in a ceremony honoring all of our nation’s veterans. This day, Veterans Day, is the anniversary of the end of World War I. Originally called Armistice Day, it is celebrated as a federal holiday each year on November 11. The name of the holiday was changed in 1954 to Veterans Day to honor those who died in all American wars.

LIVE: Our Nation Shows Its Pride And Respect on Memorial Day

Many times the most immediate moments or events in our lives are viewed on our television screens. Either when we can't be there in person or when something occurs that only the immediacy of live television (or streaming live on our computer) can take us there, it is though we are witnessing the action in person, participants in a way. Sometimes it's the best we can do to be apart and join millions of others as it's happening. Today, our nation pauses to remember all of our military, those who are currently serving our country in uniform and the millions of veterans who served in wars and in peacetime. But just moments ago many of us stopped wherever we were to watch a ceremony that has been repeated for decades. Each year, on this day, our president makes the short trip across the bridge from Washington to Arlington National Cemetery. There, he is joined by veterans, families of veterans and the leaders of our armed forces. In a solemn and very moving ceremony, he places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. With the city of Washington, DC spread out in front of him, and the honor guard of the 3rd U.S. Infantry, The Old Guard, serving at his side, the president pays the highest honor to those entombed, known only to God, and to all men and women who serve and have served in defense of our freedoms and liberty. The stirring music, prayer and the playing of taps remind us all of our history and of the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who stepped forward when our country called.


I am immensely and forever proud that three of my family members are buried in Section One of Arlington National Cemetery. My father, grandmother and my namesake, my grandfather, are buried beside one another and surrounded by thousands whose lives we remember and cherish. We celebrate their selfless service and sacrifice on this day.

(Click these links for more information about The Old Guard and Arlington National Cemetery .)