Earlier this week on my birthday, I took a stroll through a couple of the memorials in Washington DC and I have made a few other trips earlier this year.
This is Memorial Day weekend and living in the DC region, this is even more prominent and front of mind than it has been at other times in my life. The visits I have made to all of the memorials that I have visited this year, have been relatively quick trips, though they provided a contemplative time for me during each visit.
During the first two years that I lived in Seattle, I lived about 2 blocks from a large cemetery and in particular the military portion of the cemetery. I used to take our dogs for walks around that section of the cemetery almost daily for several months and was able to take in the very peaceful atmosphere. This atmosphere is very present in military cemeteries as the nearly identical plain white markers arranged in such an organized fashion enhance this environment and I feel that it is very conducive to reflection.
While I have commuted past Arlington National Cemetery numerous times this year and been able to fly over the cemetery multiple times this year, I have yet to visit. This national cemetery is a place that will be very present in my thoughts this week with all of the activity taking place there.
I will also commit to visiting Arlington before the end of June. I know that when I visit, I will have an incredible opportunity to immerse myself within the environment and will take a great deal of care to reflect on the sacrifices that our service men and women have made and continue to make.
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