Arlington

 Another hot and humid day in Washington and we got the Metro to Arlington National Cemetery. It is in the grounds of Robert E. Lee's plantation just over the river from the Lincoln Memorial. The Union troops took over Arlington House as a headquarters at the start of the war. They began using it as a cemetery 1864 and it has become the resting place for anyone who has served in the military and their families ever since. They have 27-30 burials each weekday and 6-8 on a Saturday. Whilst we were there we heard a three gun salute several times as a burial was taking place.

You have to conduct yourself with quiet dignity whilst in the cemetery so we didn't think Pimple is quite dignified enough!

Arlington has the burial place of JFK and his family. There is an eternal flame burning. It is quite an understated site really and almost un-American. Bobby and Teddy Kennedy have simple white wooden crosses nearby.

I went up to Arlington House which has a spectacular view of Washington. Charlie stayed at the bottom to mind Pimple and try not to turn into a puddle in the heat.

The tombs of the unknown soldiers at Arlington are guarded by a specially selected team of sentinels. They have pass many tests to get chosen. They guard 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and the guard is changed in an elaborate ceremony every 30 minutes. Each sentinel marches 21 steps backwards and forwards and turns around every 21 seconds. They must be constantly counting in their heads.

The new sentinel coming on duty has his weapon checked by the commander, with lots of twirling and flourishing, to ensure it is spotlessly clean. They then check the new sentinel is immaculately turned out.

The sentinels have metal plates on the sides of their shoes which they click together every time they turn or come to a halt. It's a little comical when they all do it together. They also shout out if people are making too much noise or if they encroach beyond the rails or barriers.

There was a couple of wreath laying ceremonies whilst we watched with wreaths from visiting High Schools. They have a bugler play Taps the US version of the Last Post. They repeat the whole ceremony for each wreath.

After we had been to Arlington we were going to the Air and Space Museum but it was full so we went to the Art Gallery instead. We sat outside for a while first watching lightning flashing all around us and thunder rolling around. The Gallery was lovely and we stayed until closing time. Judging by the damp outside and the blazing heat we missed getting soaked.