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My husband took a long weekend trip recently.
A 12 hour drive to Washington DC, or more precisely…
Arlington Cemetery.
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I’ve never been, and wanted to go… but the 12 hour drive down and 12 hours back for a one day stay that involved hours of walking and standing is more than my bad knee can bear.
My husband went to Arlington for the funeral of his old commanding officer. The full bird Colonel he stood next to after recovering the bodies of six Marines killed in the Beirut bombing in 1983.
Never having been there before, he arrived early and explored.
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The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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Famous graves.
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Robert E. Lee’s former home.
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And then it was time.
My husband is a Marine. They’re pretty stoic fellows. But a full honors funeral at Arlington National Cemetery of a man he greatly respected?
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Even my husband choked up.
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Do you know the significance of the backward facing boot on a riderless horse?
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The boots are placed backwards in the stirrups of a riderless horse (or “lone charger”) to symbolize that a fallen warrior or leader is taking their final journey and will ride no more. The reversed position represents the deceased looking back at their troops, family, or comrades one last time.
It’s probably a good thing I didn’t attend, because that’s enough to make me weep like a baby.
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A solemn day indeed.
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River's world..... 
All people re missed, but some are missed more than others; soldiers the most.
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Thankfully this Marine wasn’t cut down in battle, but lived a long full life.
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*are missed
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Massive respect for Armed Forces … proper ones.
Thanks – I never knew that about the boots on a riderless horse. Very poignant.
(I’m just heading out right now to the funeral of an old school mate – not services. He’s one of five friends / relatives to have passed away already this year. And another survived a heart attack. 😞)
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Very sorry for your losses. Five in just a few months is almost too much to bear.
😰
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I didn’t know about the meaning of the way the boots are placed on the horse. Yes, that would choke me up with tears if the rest of it hadn’t already.
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I’m a sucker for veteran memorials and tributes. Maybe because I’m the daughter of one and the wife of another…
❤️
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I’ve been to Arlington (50+ years ago). I never heard the backward boot and horse tradition either. Great to see all the old soldiers still being remembered and honored.
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