Arlington National Cemetery & Mount Vernon
I woke up incredibly excited! I thought I would start at Arlington National Cemetery because it was “out of the way” from Washington, D.C. City Central. I 100% knew I wanted to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I always heard stories of how emotional it would be, how they did an amazing job honoring those soldiers, and just the beauty of the cemetery.
I walked to the Metro early in the morning. I was a bit iffy because it was a longer walk than I expected. It wasn’t terrible, though. I arrived at the Metro and followed the signs for the train. It was pretty easy to navigate. When I arrived, I wasn’t quite sure how to use it, though. I purchased a 7-day unlimited Metro Pass that is directly connected to my phone. Luckily, there was a nice gentleman who helped me figure out how to get to the train and explained how it worked. After that first encounter, I felt like a natural resident.
The little kid in me was giddy with excitement when I boarded the train. The last train I took was in New York City over 15 years ago with my dad. I was too young at the time to know how it worked. Before that, it was in Germany. Again, I was too young to appreciate how it worked or the beauty of a train. As I sat down, I looked out the window and took photos of the cities and the actual train itself. I’m glad I went early because not many people were there. I would have been the dictionary definition of a tourist at that moment.
I arrived at Arlington National Metro. I wasn’t sure where to go, but luckily found a couple of people to guide me. Again, walking, walking, walking nonstop. I think I grossly underestimated how much I walked on this trip. I arrived at Arlington National Cemetery. The outside was filled with military memorabilia. My dad was a former member of the military, and they had a big statue to honor that division. I got a little emotional before even entering, knowing my dad passed away and he was a part of history, even if it was in the smallest way. As I approached the visitor check-in, I noticed an insane number of people. I knew it would be busy, but this was almost intimidating. I soon discovered that several schools were there as well (I later found out why).
I made it through the checkpoint and immediately began my hunt for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I turned on Google Maps to try to guide me. As I was doing that, I realized there was so much more at Arlington National Cemetery. I walked along the paths as I followed my Google Maps. I saw rows and rows of graves. They looked beautiful in the most sad way, though. They were all clean, perfectly lined up, with perfect writing and designs. I was already tearing up. I didn’t know these people, but the fact that they gave up so much for us made me feel unworthy of being in their presence.
I realized Ruth Bader Ginsburg was buried there. Although I don’t know much about her, I do know she did a lot for our country and for women’s rights. I found her gravesite and just stared in admiration at it. That’s when I turned around and noticed the cemetery had a stunning view of the center of Washington, D.C. I had to take a picture and just admire it for a minute.
I also realized the Eternal Flame of former President Kennedy. When I learned about why he was buried there, it made it a bit more emotional. It fascinated me that a flame existed that was meant to never burn out. Although so simple, it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever experienced in my life. How could something so sad be so beautiful?
I found my way back on the path to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I didn’t realize how I perfectly planned this. There was a line to see the Tomb, but today was even more special. Workers from the cemetery came by and handed everyone a flower to put on the Tomb. We were within touching distance of the Tomb. Since it was the weekend before Memorial Day, they held a special ceremony to honor the Tomb.
As we approached the Tomb, one of the soldiers on duty told us we must show respect by being quiet and not recording as we laid down our flowers. They told us where to place the flowers (to ensure they were evenly spread out).
I walked by the Tomb and immediately felt a heaviness in my heart. I bent down to lay the flower down. Had it been my choice, I would have just sat there feeling the ground, but we had to keep moving. I can’t imagine the heaviness some families carried/carried of a loved one that never made it home. A loved one who was never identified. A loved one who gave everything to protect their country.
The soldier who protects the Tomb was stationed at the back of the Tomb for the special occasion. Normally, he’s guarding all aspects of the Tomb, but was limited today due to the ceremony. It was amazing to still see them following the 21-second turn, 21-step protocols, etc. It made me realize how much this Tomb meant to some people. It wasn’t about being there. It was about respect.
I sat on the steps in front of the Tomb and watched as people laid flowers. The next thing I knew, I was wiping away tears and sniffles. Some people were cracking jokes, and it seriously made my blood boil. I wanted to yell and tell them to leave. It blew my mind that people could be so disrespectful, especially given that they had been given an opportunity that comes only a few times a year. People can be shot by getting close to the Tomb on a normal day. This is a day when we have the honor of being close, and you dare to make jokes? It made me sick.
I walked away after composing myself and followed the path back out of the cemetery. On the way, I saw a couple laying flowers on the gravesites of soldiers. They had no idea who these people were, but they were honoring them. I ended up crying again. It moved me to know good people existed in this world, especially after seeing such disgusting behavior just minutes later.
I made my way out to see the Arlington Military Women’s Memorial. Whoever designed this did a fantastic job of creating something moving, feminine, yet so strong. It was oddly relaxing. I would’ve sat there all day, admiring it.
An Unexpected Delay
In between Arlington National Cemetery and Mount Vernon, I decided I’d try to see something in the city center of Washington, D.C. I decided my first stop, and closest stop, would be the Lincoln Memorial. I took the Metro to the nearest stop near the Lincoln Memorial. As I made my way there, I noticed a lot of police and roads blocked off. I didn’t think much of it, other than maybe road work, but I was wrong.
I found my way to the Lincoln Memorial. I went through all the steps and was in absolute awe. I didn’t realize how many steps I had to climb, but when I got there, it was worth it. I had wonderful and beautiful views of the National Mall (which is not a shopping mall). The statue was incredibly huge. It amazed me that someone could make this with minimal tools. They honored the states on the memorial’s outer rim. It was truly gorgeous and breathtaking. It may have been one of my favorite monuments to visit. As I sat there, I realized my time was cut short. I had to haul butt to the metro to make it to Mount Vernon in time for my scheduled tour.
I made the mistake of waiting too long! I ended up caught up in a Memorial Day motorcycle parade. It lasted over an hour. Loud revving engines that just kept coming and coming and coming. There were thousands, if not tens of thousands, of motorcycles. It was never-ending. It made me look up what was happening, which I discovered was a Memorial Day remembrance and demonstration parade. It was called Rolling Thunder. Just as the motorcyclists were finishing, semi-trucks followed. Initially, it was pretty cool. But how many motorcycles can you see without getting irritated by the loud rumbling? Even with my headphones in, I heard it as if I were part of it. It didn’t help that I was on edge about making it to my tour in time, too. It would have been different if they showed patriotism, but it was literally just motorcycles riding with honor. I would’ve loved to see some banners, flags, and other decorations. The semi trucks were much more impressive on this front. There was one moment when a soldier stood in the middle of the traffic at salute to honor those fallen. That was the most impressive part of the demonstration.
When it was over, I walked faster than I ever had in my life to get to the nearest metro (which I later realized was not the nearest). Somehow, I made it without being too irritated by traffic. My focus was on making it to Mount Vernon.
Mount Vernon
My second major visit today would be Mount Vernon, home of George Washington. As a teacher, this was the nerd in me coming out. Although I don’t teach history, I am fascinated by it. I knew that this was one of the sites I had to visit before I left.
Getting here was a bit tough. I had to take several trains and buses to get here. Some of the train stations were extremely sketchy. At one of the stops, I started to feel a bit paranoid. On any other trip, I would have had mace and other defense items. However, in Washington, D.C., you can’t go anywhere with anything – not even nail clippers. I definitely felt out of place and nervous.
I had less than 20 minutes to get to my appointment for the scheduled tour. I knew I couldn’t wait here for 20 minutes. I was already anxious and feeling on edge. I didn’t know what to do. Out of desperation, I took my first Uber. I just had to get out and get away as soon as possible.
I’m a very paranoid person (especially being a female traveling alone), but this Uber driver made me feel safe and comfortable. There was no awkward conversation. He made sure to keep his distance while driving. He never once showed his frustration with other drivers. I felt extremely safe.
I arrived at Mount Vernon and immediately hauled butt to the actual tour. I had about 8 minutes to get there. I do wish they had more signs telling you where what is. It may have been easier if I grabbed a map on the way in, but I didn’t have time. I found the line to the tour. It was a good mile-long line. Again, there were tons of schools here visiting. I was starting to think something was going on (which I later learned was). Luckily, they were pulling people in by their tour times. I was able to move up front based on the time of my tour.
His house was absolutely stunning, even before entering. The perfect symmetry made my ADD heart happy. It was my ideal house because it was symmetrical on both sides. It sat at the end of the river, with a stunning view of the river and the landscapes. It seriously made me feel at ease and calm.
When we entered, it was everything I expected. It encompassed a lot of old memorabilia from that time. The floors were made of stone or dirt. In some spots, they had wood. In fewer spots, they had carpet. Almost every room had a fireplace. The walls were covered in intricate wallpaper, which I’m sure at the time meant you had money. The number of items made from metal and gold was stunning. Canopy beds were apparently a trend of the time. The rooms were decently sized, given the period. It was eye-opening to see the old doors and keys. Some keys were bigger than both my hands put together. In some parts of the property, I was amazed at how well protected he could have been at the time.
We saw George Washington’s desk and old books from that time. Things like this make me sit in awe, realizing how far we have come as a country. Wooden windows that were deteriorating due to age. They are doing a good job at preserving and restoring, though, so I will give them credit! The ceilings featured intricate designs that reflected social status at the time. Many of the items in George Washington’s house were gifts from other countries, including his main fireplace mantel. It blew my mind how everything matched within one room. The wallpaper would match the bedding.
We were able to see George Washington’s room. The same room that he died in. Although I didn’t experience anything paranormal, I’m sure there’s something interesting that happens there. I can’t imagine dying in my house, my house turning into a national treasure, and having hundreds of thousands of people in my home just about every day.
After touring the home, I visited several other buildings on the property. I saw George Washington’s old tomb. The original tomb was meant as a temporary holding space until he would be buried at the Capitol in the city center of Washington, D.C. However, by the time they created a burial site at the Capitol, Washington’s family and estate basically told them no. Instead, they built a new tomb on the property for him and his wife. Again, it was enchanting to see how people survived and lived during that time period.
The most moving part of Mount Vernon was the Slave Memorial. Walking up to the Slave Memorial, there were unmarked graves. They outlined the graves with rope and placed small rocks to indicate who should be buried there. Right next to it, a memorial was built to honor those who were part of the property. It’s not something many people think about, but to have that honor was eye-opening.
Overall, I’m glad this was my first official day. I experienced a range of emotions. I feel like this was the perfect way to start my trip and to be grateful for the opportunities in front of me. I was extremely lucky to have been part of a memorial service honoring those who served, both recently and from the 1700s.