Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, United States.

The cemetery is a breathtakingly beautiful yet haunting and sobering experience.  

Men and women who served in several wars, to include the American Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq, have been laid to rest here.  Others here also include military chaplains, nurses, Civil War contrabands, and countless memorials to those who never returned.  

The eternal flame marking the final resting place of American President John F. Kennedy and several family members.  

JFK and President William Howard Taft are the only American presidents buried at Arlington.

The cemetery also contains the Tomb of the Unknowns, or the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and many military memorials as well as ones to those from the Space Shuttle Challenger and the victims of the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon.

Arlington House--the former estate of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and his wife.  The half-mast flag indicated there was a funeral the day I visited.

It was a sobering reminder to see the family at the grave, to hear the gun salute, and to feel the chills that 'Taps' evokes as it runs down your spine.

But the budding new life the flowers reminded of the cycle of life...

...while the gravestones reminded of the sacrifices given for the next generation.

For more information on visiting Arlington National Cemetery.

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Heroes' Acre

Hereos' Acre in Harare, Zimbabwe.  It is a memorial to those in ZANLA and ZIPRA who died in Zimbabwe's liberation war.

Burial is reserved for those declared by the ruling party, ZANU-PF, to be a national hero.

There is controversy over the choice of some individuals because of their allegiance to ZANU, vice liberation war credentials.

When asked if Robert Mugabe would be buried here, the guide smiled knowingly but stated no spot is reserved and is only allotted after someone dies.

This obelisk houses the eternal flame, lit at independence celebrations, to depict the spirit of independence.

My favorite fact?  The eternal flame is only lit from 1800 - 0600.

The monument, memorial, and obelisk are flanked by two friezes depict the struggles for Independence.

Several graves at Heroes' Acre, many with pictures of the deceased.

While my Zimbabwe history is not perfect, I recognized many of the names of Harare's streets.

The statue, designed in North Korea, is a monument to those who died in the liberation war.  

It is also the tomb of the unknown soldier.

It reminded me of another North Korean-designed statue from my past.

Robert Mugabe's first wife, Sally, is buried here at Heroes' Acre.

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