We went to visit a friends grave a few years back. This for me, was a very emotional ceremony. My wife and I stayed for over an hour to watch it three times.
You notice the wheel chair veterans in the background. They are flown in by the Honor Flight Network to visit and reflect at their memorials. Over 125K have been flow in since 2005. Yearly now over 20K veterans with their guardians. Pretty evenly distributed WW2 6K, Korea 8K, Vietnam 5K in the last reported year. These men all struggle as best they can to their feet and offer a salute. Brought tears to my eyes.
Some of the other visitors sit, wearing hats, talking, during the changing of the guard. It also brings the Master Sergeant, over to give those people a piece of his mind. And not in a kind way he tells them to stand, remove their headwear and keep silent.
If someone hasn't seen this in person, and has the chance to visit, it is a wonderful experience.
For 24 hours a day, 365 days a year since 1937, in all kinds of weather, men guard the resting place of three unnamed service members in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. One sergeant said, "guys in Afghanistan can't stop because of snow. Guys in Korea didn't stop because it was snowing."
These guards are handpicked members of the the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as "The Old Guard."
PM
