Section 60........

I watched a documentary on HBO last night about Section 60 in Arlington National Cemetary. That is the section that is currently designated for Iraq/Afghanistan war dead. Some things that struck me about it........

-At one point, they had completed a memorial service and the workers were coming in with a backhoe to fill the grave. They dug a hole right next to the grave being covered, which it quickly became apparent was to be the next grave for the next service. They accomplished two tasks in one, though it was a stark reminder at the quick rate of burials on that day.

-Several times, a family member would lay down on the grave while touching the stone and take a nap. Others would bring lawn chairs and take a nap in the chair. It was somewhat odd, though I certainly understand the reasons they'd do that.

-The graveyard became a form of family when there were a lot of people in the area. Family members would walk over to other mourners in the area and ask them about their loved one. It appeared to be a form of therapy for both sides, whether they were listening or talking.

-The varied backgrounds of the war dead served as a testament to the great nature of our society. Every form of religion was accounted for in the graveyard. If only our enemies were as accepting of others, we'd likely not be in this prediciment.

-At one point, two widows in their 20s who had been chatting had noticed an older lady who was crying over a gravestone. After the lady left, the two of them went over to look at the stone. The grave was from a WWII soldier who had died in 1987. The two women quickly realized that the pain of their loss during this war would not go away anytime soon.

-Several of the families made comments about how difficult it was to have a family member who gave their life in combat only to hear some people in America portray their loss as being in vain because they disagreed with the Iraq/Afghanistan war. I don't think some people realize just how hurtful their comments can be to those who bear this burden.

-A class of high school students brought some things to the graveyard to place on the graves. Each student had researched the acts of one soldier buried in the area. One girl came up to the grave of the soldier who she had researched only to find his mother at the grave. The girl gave the mother the memorial piece. The mother thanked her and told the girl about her son. The mother eventually began to cry and commented that this was a lot for the student to handle. The student responded 'No, it's fine'. The mother smiled and was obviously impressed by the support of the student.

-Christmas is quite a sight at Arlington for those who haven't seen it before. Wreathes are laid at every gravestone. In Section 60, one mother and her two daughters decided to add a bit more to the season. The two young girls (probably around 8 years old) grabbed a bunch of candy cane ornaments. The girls went to every grave and placed a candy cane on the wreath. They would say 'Merry Christmas!' at every single grave while placing the candy cane.

It's a great documentary and those who have HBO should watch it if you get a chance.