Arlington, Virginia

Focus on Arlington National Cemetery:  More than 3 million people visit Arlington each year, though 2020 will definitely be an exception. Not only is the cemetery closed, but the coronavirus has virtually shut down travel. That means the birds and wildlife will have it all to themselves. [2019]

Arlington, Virginia

Focus on Arlington National Cemetery:  "I could stay here forever," said President John F. Kennedy from this spot as he fixed his attention on the Washington Monument not long before he was assassinated in 1963. Today, his simple grave is flanked by First Lady Jackie Kennedy's and their infant son's. At the head of the grave is an eternal flame that was lit by the First Lady during his funeral. [2019]

Arlington, Virginia

Focus on Arlington National Cemetery:  The Tomb of the Unknown Solider is under constant vigilance in honor of all the men and women whose remains were never identified. The ceremony going on here is the changing of the guard. When the cemetery is open, it takes place every half hour in summer and every hour in winter. The sentries are drawn from the U.S. Army. Serving as an Honor Guard is one of the highest honors in military service. [2019]

Arlington, Virginia

Focus on Arlington National Cemetery:  Pierre Charles L'Enfamt was the immigrant who created the plan for the nation's capital. That plan is now on the memorial slab that marks L'Enfant's grave right outside Arlington House. It is a must-see sight for all cartophiles visiting the District of Columbia. Not only can you see the original plan, you can also look downhill and across the Potomac and and thereon to the city that took form first in the mind of the French-born military engineer who made himself useful in winning the American Revolution. If you are visiting, descend into the Metro at L'Enfant Plaza and take the Blue Line to the Arlington Cemetery Station. [2019]

Arlington, Virginia

Focus on Arlington National Cemetery: Arlington was one of 74 national cemeteries established during the Civil War. They were all born of necessity: so many men to bury and so many families in ruins financially, From 12,000 graves at the end of 1865, the numbers have increased to more than 400,000. The cemetery took its name from Arlington House, also known as the Custis-Lee Mansion (see it?). [2019]

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Lighthouse Theology 4:  Isaiah 60:19 ~ "You Will Have The Lord For An Everlasting Light." NASV ~ "No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the Lord for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory." Weavers Church Cemetery. [2014]

Norfolk, Virginia

Burial or Cremation?  If someone is cremated, the problem becomes what to do with the ashes, or cremains. Option 0: That's right. It's not an option. You can't just take the ashes to the cemetery and scatter them. Riverside Memorial Park. [2012]

Richmond, Virginia

Cemetery Visitors:  It looks like this couple is practicing for their final exits. They couldn't find a finer cemetery: more worth visiting than most art or history museums. Even presidents are buried here. Hollywood Cemetery. [2012]

Richmond, Virginia

Headstone Sculptures:  Granite animals are frequently part of the cemetery art world. They do their best to turn graveyards into sculpture gardens, but rarely are they asleep (eve though their owners are). In the past, an animal effigy was needed at a tomb only to serve as a guardian: with eyes wide open. Hollywood Cemetery. [2015]

Onancock, Virginia

The Last Shall Be First, and The First Last:  It's the 23rd day of the month and time to remember yet another Z name: Zember (of South Slavic origin). If we lettered days instead of numbering them, January 23 would be January W since W is the 23rd letter of the alphabet. Do you see where we are going with this? Fairview Lawn Cemetery. [2018]

Onancock, Virginia

Voices from the Land of the Living ~ Third Person Singular Subjective Case:  "She was a kind wife and a loving mother. Not dead but asleep in Jesus." Mount Holly Cemetery. [2018]

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Voices from the Land of the Living ~ Third Person Singular Subjective Case:  "She never knew a stranger, and with a servant's heart, she was a friend to all." Weavers Church Cemetery. [2014]

Cape Charles, Virginia

Surname Initials as Identifying Logos ~ O:  The letter O is the 4th most frequently used letter in the English language. It lends itself to transformation into a wreath: Neither the O nor the wreath have a beginning or and end. They both remind us of everlasting life. Lower Northampton Baptist Church Cemetery. [2016]

Midland, Virginia

Bequeathed to the Living ~ Biker Wisdom:  "Ride the Open Road." Midland Cemetery. [2014]

Norfolk, Virginia

Mistakes Were Made:  No, they weren't. The Misses just changed her mind and decided he had to do it her way. When he died, only the years of birth and death were put on the headstone. Someone, maybe the Misses or maybe the kids, decided that wasn't enough, so months and days were added. Forest Lawn Cemetery. [2014]

Lorton, Virginia

January is for Palindromes:  That looks like the Janus of the animal kingdom doesn't it? Meet the king of beginnings and endings. Meet a visual palindrome: It reads the same forwards and backwards. It is even more fun if you compare the medallion to the name. There are two lions in the circle and two lions in the name (Leo and Lyons). The ultimate irony is that Gerald comes from the Norman French word for 'spear.' So, here's a man who was hunting himself. Pohick Church Cemetery. [2017]

Capeville, Virginia

One True Love ~ A Man and His Tractor:  The holy triumvirate: farm (symbolized by the tractor), country (symbolized by the stars and stripes), and God (symbolized by the steeple that backs up the churchyard). Capeville UMC Cemetery. [2016]

Charlottesville, Virginia

A Symbol of Home ~ The Bird House:  A birdhouse by a grave may represent a place where the soul can remain on earth just a little longer, but it may also be just a way of giving birds a place to nest, a way of  making cemeteries serve environmental needs. Think of the cemetery as a nature preserve. The bird house here lords over what is called a 'false tomb.' Daughters of Zion Cemetery. [2013]

Falmouth, Virginia

Garden Flags as Aides Memoires:  You know he must have spent many hours at home keeping an eye on the birdhouses (probably more than one!) in his back yard. It's good to know those doves on his tombstone will have a place to nest tonight. New Hope United Methodist Church Cemetery. [2017]

Bealeton, Virginia

The Confederate Battle Flag Lives On:  He surely didn't fight in the Civil War, but his Confederate battle flag will live on as long as the granite survives. Don't you wish the flag were accurate, though? It has 14 stars rather than 13. Although the C.S.A. had only 11 member states, the battle flag (a part of the C.S.A. flag after 1863) had 13 stars. History says that the other two starts were for two of the border states. Nonsense! There had to be 13 stars, no less, because the first flag of the United States of America had 13, one for each of the original states. Parity achieved! Cedar Grove Cemetery. [2010]