Our Nation's Most Hallowed Ground

A Visit To Arlington National Cemetery, Where The Fallen From The Civil War To Iraq And Afghanistan Are Laid To Rest

(CBS)  Every day there are dozens of funerals at Arlington National Cemetery - veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and younger soldiers from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. CBS National Security Correspondent David Martin visited our nation's most hallowed ground.

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Three hundred and twenty thousand men and women lie buried here - the famous and the unknown. They all have one thing in common: they served their country honorably.

"It is a wonderful, terrible place," said author Elizabeth Pryor. "It is wonderful because the history here is monumental. And it's a beautiful place."

Pryor views Arlington National Cemetery through a unique lens - the letters of the man who lived in the house on its grounds, Robert E. Lee.

"He once wrote that Arlington was the place that his feelings were more attached than any other place," Pryor said.

It was in Arlington House, a house built by slaves, that Lee decided to resign his commission in the United States Army and fight for the South.

"The decision he made in this house, in his bedroom on the second floor, forever altered the course of American history," said park ranger Kendall Thompson.

… And the history of this great estate. In time of war its commanding view of the nation's capital, said Thompson, made it more than just a scenic overlook.

"At the time, artillery was pretty accurate to about four miles," Thompson said. "It's around 3.8 miles as a cannonball flies from here to the Capitol."

"This is the high ground that you've got to occupy in a war?" Martin asked.

"Uh-huh, and after Lee left, it was only a matter of weeks before the Army crossed the river and did settle into the house."

More than half a million soldiers died in the most awful war in the nation's history, and it turned Lee's estate into a graveyard.

Private William Chrisman was the first to be buried here. He'd only been in the Army for 90 days. "Died of peritonitis," said Tom Sherlock, the cemetery's historian. "Never saw combat."

Sherlock said no one realized this would one day be a national shrine.

"It was the result of the burial space in and around the city of Washington being exhausted by the sick and the wounded being brought to the Army hospitals here," he said.

Was it an honor to be buried here then?

"It was not," Sherlock said. "You know, today Arlington is thought of in such high esteem. But back during the Civil War you probably wouldn't have wanted a friend or relative buried here because we're basically burying two types of soldiers: unknowns, which one out of every three combat deaths were during the Civil War, and also soldiers whose families didn't have the money to return them home. So it was basically a potter's field."

Just over the hill, more rows of Civil War dead. But these headstones tell a very different story. Many bear the initials "USCT."

"USCT stands for United States Colored Troops," said Sherlock. "And these were some of the first African Americans that were actually allowed in combat roles, during the Civil War. And although that's not a term we'd use today, in the 1860s a black man would have been proud to be called a United States Colored Troops."

"Now, if anybody had a stake in the outcome of that war …" said Martin.

"Absolutely. I can't think of an American soldier that knew the values of fighting for freedom more, because they were literally fighting for their freedom from slavery."

As the slaughter mounted, General Montgomery Meigs, the quartermaster of the Union Army, took his revenge by ordering the dead to be buried in Mrs. Lee's beloved rose garden.

"She said they planted them up to the very door without even common decency," Pryor recounted. "General Meigs personally came here and paced off these graves because he wanted them in full view of the Lees' house."

"Sounds like an act of spite," Martin said.

"It does," she agreed. "It's clear from his own writings that he did have a strong sense of maliciousness, vindictiveness. It's not a nice way to begin a hallowed place."

No one thought of Arlington as a hallowed place until 25,000 people attended the funeral for the crew of the Battleship Maine which blew up and sank in the harbor at Havana, Cuba in 1898. It was that generation's 9/11, and it became the battle cry ("Remember the Maine!") for the Spanish-American War.

What made Arlington the place of honor was another 9/11-like shock - the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the nationally televised funeral procession as he crossed the Potomac for the last time and was laid to rest at the foot of Lee's mansion.

There is every reason to believe JFK would have approved of the site selected for his grave. He visited here just six months before he was killed.

"The president was taking in the view of the city of Washington, and he said, 'This is beautiful. I could stay here forever,'" Sherlock said.

The burial of President Kennedy was the one event that changed how Arlington is operated as a cemetery.

Requests for burial in Arlington quadrupled, forcing the cemetery to tighten up its eligibility requirements. The number of tourists shot up even more, from one million a year to 9 million in the first six months after Kennedy's burial. It's back to a steady state of between 4 and 5 million a year now, but the eternal flame, along with the Tomb of the Unknowns, is still the most visited site.

The cemetery is busier than it's ever been: 27 to 30 funerals a day, 7,000 a year. The majority of funerals are those of World War II veterans and their spouses being buried each day here.

No one is more deeply steeped in Arlington's rhythms of death and honor than Jack Metzler. He grew up here when his father was superintendent, and now he's the superintendent.

Orchestrating the rigid protocol of 30 funerals a day is a military operation all its own.

"Everything is worked off of a schedule and we reuse the caissons, we reuse the troops, funeral after funeral throughout the day," Metzler said.

"You must worry about one funeral crossing another," Martin said.

"Caissons don't back up. They go forward," Metzler said. "So we have to be very careful that we don't cross caissons or cross processions through the day.

"A funeral here at Arlington Cemetery is a one-time event, so we work very hard to ensure that everything is done correctly the first time."

There are basically two kinds of funerals at Arlington - veterans who have lived out their years, and soldiers who have fallen on the field of battle.

"Burying someone whose time has come, World War II veteran, there's usually a large family, grandchildren, great-grandchildren," Metzler said. "It's a celebration of life. The military sends this individual off in grand style. It's a celebration.

"Now when you go to an active duty funeral, talking about someone who is 19, 20, 21 years old, it's a completely different funeral. Raw emotions."

Which brings us to what is simply known as Section 60, where nearly 500 dead from Iraq and Afghanistan are buried. Here wives leave fresh kisses on their husbands' tombstones, stuffed animals keep the fallen company, and colored stones are a way of showing love.

Ami Miller leaves stones for her brother, Chris Neiberger, whom she visits every week.

"I leave one for my mother and for my father. One for myself. One for my husband. My brother Eric. His wife Ellie. My brother Robert. And my Aunt Susan. It's really the immediate people affected, hurting for him."

Chris Neiberger had just turned 22 the Friday before he was killed.

Three headstones away, at the grave of his fiancé Maria Ortiz, Juan Casiano takes up his weekend vigil.

"I still love her and I miss her so much," he said. He was wearing the hat that she wore when he dropped her off at Fort Bliss, Texas, to go to Iraq.

Ortiz was the first nurse killed in combat since Vietnam.

Why did Casiano choose to have her buried here?

"This is holy ground," he said. "What an honor to be buried here, you know? And I thought, let's bring her here where she can always be remembered. And always having someone paying respects to her for her duty."

Chris Neiberger's father wanted his son buried here. "I think he felt very strongly that Chris would want to be with his fellow soldiers," Ami Miller said. "This is a very honorable place."

The tour buses don't stop at Section 60 - there are no crowds to eavesdrop on conversations between the living and the dead. But people are beginning to find their way to this part of the cemetery.

"Do you mind the tourists?" Martin asked Miller.

"I mind being treated like an attraction, I mind that," she said. "If people want to come and pay their respects and are respectful to me that's OK."

A place of profound sorrow open for everyone to visit. But only those who have served their country with honor are allowed to stay.

[singingrick]

It''s a good time take a good look at how our troops are being treated when they come home from Iraq broken. It seems that conservatives put a bumper sticker on their SUV and forget about it.

[bron-yr-aur]

no, its the time to remember the ones who died who gave you the right to be a whiny coward and posts your *** on here.

Posted by jamesm12341 at 10:27 AM : May 25, 2008
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... and the right to post yours as well.

[singingrick]

It''s a good time take a long look at how our troops are being treated when they come home from Iraq broken. It seems that "conservatives" just put a bumper sticker on their SUV and forget about it.

[rafterman1]

===yep, thank a vet for it===
Posted by jamesm12341

You''re welcome.

USMC, 1989-1996, Desert Shield, Desert Storm

[tannermom]

I was apalled at the thought of Sightseeing Buses driving through Arlington Cemetery...another National Disgrace! The people that gave their lives to protect our freedom and their families should be given more respect than to be a tourist attraction!!

[rebalwolf]

This is the one day we need to forget our arguments and remember the troops who died and who didnt die but came home hurt from the horror of war. Im very conservative but this morning I stood with three Liberals at services for fallen comrads. We dont have to agree with each other to work with each other. We do have to respect each other. then we can do some good. rebalwolf

[downtowner97]

The warmongers aren''t happy unless people are dying. They don''t even want to know why they are dying, or what they are dying for. The war in Iraq was a horrible idea. Just ask any retired general, including Colin Powell. We needed to go to Afghanistan when we were attacked. Very few will dispute this, even the "Whiny libs" I see mentioned in these posts again and again.

Yes, we need to honor our dead. No, we don''t need to make more just to feel tough, there needs to be a reason every time a soldier is put in harm''s way. We owe it to them. Their lives are valuable to us, and the things they know how to do can help make us safe if their commanders send them to the right places and give them the right orders.

[mrsjajo]

I had the privilege of visiting Arlington National Cemetery approximately 10 years ago. I am not ashamed to say I was there as a tourist. At first I was excited to be there as a tourist, but my mood quickly changed from excitement to one of sorrow where I was crying my eyes out. Arlington had an affect on me I was not expecting. I was awestruck, not knowing what to say. My feelings were in complete and utter turmoil. Arlington is a place of sadness and joy, unparalleled honor and the utmost respect. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was an especially emotional and moving experience for me. Arlington National Cemetery will always be in my heart, in my soul, and I am so very proud to have had the opportunity to step on such hallowed ground.

[sgtrds-e4]

yep, thank a vet for it.

Posted by jamesm12341 at 10:47 AM : May 25, 2008

Your welcome. USAF 73-77 Vietnam.

[ubrew12]

jamesm12341 said: "one lib that cant be mature just one day....anymore?"
There''s 4000 coffins in the ground that weren''t there 6 years ago. My guess is: you had more than I did with putting them there. To defend my freedom? To do what: invade other countries? You''re a war-monger, pure and simple. If there''s a God in heaven, people like you will be shipped OUT of my country soon.

[Latrocinor]

Your welcome. USAF 73-77 Vietnam.

Posted by SgtRDS-E4
.. ..
There is no proof you were ever in Vietnam nor served in the USAF

[Latrocinor]

Your welcome. USAF 73-77 Vietnam.

Posted by SgtRDS-E4
.. .. ..

Seeing we evacuated VietNam in 75 I question how you can say you were there in 76 and 77?

[haoli25]

Politicians should not be allowed to be buried in Arlington.

[wardoglrs]

Nowhere in the extensive press coverage of the military base closings, and their expected negative impact on the economies of the states affected, has there been information related to the history behind base closings. Citizens are being lead to believe that the primary reason for base closings is economic, the saving of taxpayers'' hard-earned money. Such reasoning is hard to swallow, considering the $300 billion plus dollars spent on the unconstitutional war in Iraq which has little to do with protecting the national security of the United States; and the presence of the U.S. military in over 100 foreign countries, defending international, not national interests. If we really wanted to save money and were concerned regarding national security, wouldn''t we be bringing our military back to defend our borders and to protect us from possible attacks from abroad? .


http://www.deliberatedumbingdown.com/pages/articles/Base%20Closures.html

[bron-yr-aur]

Seeing we evacuated VietNam in 75 I question how you can say you were there in 76 and 77?

Posted by bhoogren at 02:24 PM : May 25, 2008
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Did you ever consider that he might have stayed in the Military after Vietnam was over? Probably not. Stupid Republicans.

[fmosborne]

I found Ms. Pryor''s vapors about the founding of Arlington a bit missish. General Meigs, who was a Georgia native, swore the same entry oath at West Point as Lee-who graduated first in his class- and worked under him to reshape the Mississippi River. One of the first men he buried in Mrs. Lee''s rose garden was his own son. I doubt he considered the confiscation of the grounds (NOT the house) no more malicious than we would consider actions taken against an American willingly sids terrorists. An historian should understand perspective better than most. Sincerely, F.M. Osborne

[wwiidaughter]

As the daughter of a man who earned the Purple Heart in World war II - and who instilled in his children love of country, democracy and the constitution, and who is buried at Arlington - I find it hardest to comprehend how a crew of neo-cons who never served and never matured past playing with their tin soldiers safe in their childhood bedrooms, could be respected by the military and the "patriots" of the United States of America. My father was a "lib" and I am a "lib" and proud of it.

[floydzeppl]

As the daughter of a man who earned the Purple Heart in World war II - and who instilled in his children love of country, democracy and the constitution, and who is buried at Arlington - I find it hardest to comprehend how a crew of neo-cons who never served and never matured past playing with their tin soldiers safe in their childhood bedrooms, could be respected by the military and the "patriots" of the United States of America. My father was a "lib" and I am a "lib" and proud of it.

Posted by WWIIdaughter at 03:43 PM : May 25, 2008
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As well you should be Libs made America Great. NeoCons and other fake Republicans destroyed it.

[gce65]

And no administration in recently years has done more to add to Arlington than Bush/Cheney.

[gce65]

"Libs" were the ones who built America up: FDR and the New Deal in the 30''s and 40''s, Kennedy/Johnson and the Great Society in the 60''s, and to some degree Clinton in the 90''s.
Conservatives and Neocons have done little except raid the national wealth and redistribute it to the already wealthy.

[rafterman1]

===Is there ever going to be an end to this worshiping the troops cr*a*p? This kind of thinking is what gets us into messes like "Eye-Rack".===
Posted by cdfoxtrot

It''s not the troops'' fault about Iraq, it''s the politicians. Some day, our troops will really be fighting for America (sorry neocons, Iraq isn''t it), and those guys deserve all the credit in the world. As far as I''m concerned, the troops aren''t worshiped enough. A senator, pushing a voting button 100 times a year, makes $150 grand, but a soldier getting shot at on a daily basis makes below minimim wage. Go figure.

[shipweksoul]

May the Lord bless the memory of our fallen heroes who have gone before us who wanted fredom! God knows who is of him! God bless everyone who want freedom and not tyranny for our nation. May God bless you for your love for him exemplified through Jesus.
Patrick Henry said "Our country was founded on the gospel of our savior Jesus Christ.

[sgtrds-e4]

Seeing we evacuated VietNam in 75 I question how you can say you were there in 76 and 77?

Posted by bhoogren at 02:24 PM : May 25, 2008

I wasn''t. I went SDY there twice in the winter of 74-75. The bulk of my time in the Air Force was as a computer operator at a SAC nuclear weapons base.

[shipweksoul]

May the Lord bless the memory of our fallen heroes who have gone before us who wanted freedom! God knows who is of him! God bless everyone who want freedom and not tyranny for our nation. May God bless you for your love for him exemplified through Jesus.
Patrick Henry said "Our country was founded on the gospel of oor savior Jesus Christ.

[sgtrds-e4]

SDY?

TDY. I got to proof better before clicking publish

[shipweksoul]

May the Lord bless the memory of our fallen heroes who have gone before us who wanted freedom! God knows who is of him! God bless everyone who want freedom and not tyranny for our nation. May God bless you for your love for him exemplified through Jesus.
Patrick Henry said "Our country was founded on the gospel of our savior Jesus Christ.

[oilpumper]

Any U.S. forces in Viet Nam in ''76 or ''77 would have been deserters. The last U.S. troops were airlifted off the roof of the U.S. Embassy in 1975.

[gce65]

God has nothing to do with it. This is just people killing people.

[gce65]

"Christianity neither is, nor ever was, a part of the common law. --Thomas Jefferson, 1814

[shipweksoul]

May the Lord bless the memory of our fallen heroes who have gone before us who wanted freedom! God knows who is of him! God bless everyone who want freedom and not tyranny for our nation. May God bless you for your love for him exemplified through Jesus.
Patrick Henry said "Our country was founded on the gospel of our savior Jesus Christ.
www.Shipwrecksoul.blogspot.com

[gce65]

ShipwekSoul:
Despite your religious rantings, God isn''t going to bless anyone for fighting or killing. If God even exists, he/she/it has nothing to do with the matter. This is just people killing people. In this case, for oil.

[gce65]

"The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter."
-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Adams, 1823

[sgtrds-e4]

Posted by shipwreksoul at 05:26 PM : May 25, 2008

SPAM.

[downtowner97]

"For a long time I thought God was truth. I now know that truth is God". - Gandhi

[gce65]

"The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason: The Morning Daylight appears plainer when you put out your Candle."
-- Benjamin Franklin, 1758

[shipwecksoul]

www.Shipwrecksoul.blogspot.com

Posted by SHIPWECKSOUL at 05:55 PM : May 25, 2008

SPAM. Advertisement.

Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 06:01 PM : May 25, 2008

See what I mean?
We try to present another senario and we are shut down. Oh well if that is what people want we will go elsewhere where there is really freedom of speech.

[gce65]

"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit."
-- Thomas Paine, 1794

[sgtrds-e4]

We try to present another senario and we are shut down. Oh well if that is what people want we will go elsewhere where there is really freedom of speech.

Posted by SHIPWECKSOUL at 06:07 PM : May 25, 2008

Don''t let the door hit you in the backside on the way out. Bye.

[floydzeppl]

Patrick Henry said "Our country was founded on the gospel of our savior Jesus Christ.

Posted by ShipwekSoul at 05:44 PM : May 25, 2008
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Go tell that to the Native Americans.

[sjtrds-e4]

Screw everyone who does not think the way I do. I am in charge! You Christians and people of color are of no consequence. only I count. because I am sick,

[blackwater66-2009]

"Blessed are the peacemakers (our Warriors), for they shall be called sons of God.

DE OPRESSO LIBER
5TH SFG

[gce65]

Warriors are the OPPOSITE of peacemakers, Blackwater. What an idiot you are!

[denn034]

I remember them and appreciate their service. Here''s hoping that you do as well.

[gce65]

Aren''t all you hyper-militarized, bible thumpers out there forgetting the basics?
"Thou shalt not kill." -- The Ten Commandments, God

[jesterbellee]

Patrick Henry said "Our country was founded on the gospel of our savior Jesus Christ.

Posted by ShipwekSoul at 05:44 PM : May 25, 2008
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Go tell that to the Native Americans.

What should I do if I am An American Indian 1/4 and a christian?

[jesterbellee]

You are screwin with my self esteem ther Flyodd

[jesterbellee]

Patrick Henry said "Our country was founded on the gospel of our savior Jesus Christ.

Posted by ShipwekSoul at 05:44 PM : May 25, 2008
---------

Go tell that to the Native Americans.

What should I do if I am An American Indian 1/4 and a christian?

[jesterbellee]

Patrick Henry said "Our country was founded on the gospel of our savior Jesus Christ.

Posted by ShipreckSoul.blogspot.com at 05:44 PM : May 25, 2008
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Go tell that to the Native Americans.

What should I do if I am An American Indian 1/4 and a christian?

[gce65]

I guess Bush will get a chance to see all the crosses he has added to Arlington cemetery today when he drops off a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

I wonder if the Cowardly Cowboy will wear his new faux biker jacket from the Rolling Thunder group (they gave him a jacket just so they could press him on REALLY doing something on veterans issues.
I wonder where Bush''s buddy Draft Dodgin'' D1ck Cheney (FIVE DEFERMENTS from Viet Nam) is today? Shooting a friend in the face?

[mcvet]

Patrick Henry said "Our country was founded on the gospel of our savior Jesus Christ.

Posted by ShipwreckSoul.blogspot.com at 05:44 PM : May 25, 2008
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Typical Religious Nazi! Tells ONLY part of the story! That Position wasn''t just taken by Henry but also, several other''s. The Position was put before the Constitution Convention is SERVERAL different forms... ALL were rejected. The Constitution was thus written WITHOUT any reference to Christian or any other religion. The debate on the issue was HEATED and LONG but in the end the founders were SPECIFIC in their view. Religion would remain a PRIVATE Decision and Government would NOT take the position of ANY citizen over another on it. That also, lead to the provisions REQUIRING no Religious Test being required. In understanding how we came out with what we have, one must look at what was proposed and rejected. Sieg Heil Robertson!!