The following excerpt was written a few days after Memorial Day 2008.
LaNita
LaNita
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One of the widows I am friends with recently shared an experience she had. Her husband is buried at Arlington. She does not live near there, so when she decided to go to Washington, DC for Memorial Day, it was an opportunity for her to "sit" with her husband and spend time wrapped in her memories. Personally, I can think of no better way to honor our loved ones who are passed. So she set out with her blanket and i-pod to spend a quiet day alone. Unfortunately, we do not live in a very considerate society. Instead of finding a peaceful moment with her memories, she became a "tourist attraction". She said that she sat on her blanket, ear plugs in, eyes closed and still people felt the need to stop and ask her questions the whole time she was there.
At the end of the weekend and before leaving for home, she went back to spend a few more moments at his gravesite. As she sat there on the ground, head down crying, she heard a click and looked up to see a lady next to her, taking her picture. The lady walked around her husband's grave, knelt down and started asking questions and then took another picture. WTF?!!
My friend mentioned also that she recognized a Gold Star father whose son was buried near her husband and went over to talk with him. The father was talking to someone who ended up being a reporter looking to do interviews with the families there. Needless to say, my friend found very little peace while she was there.
While I do applaud people who care enough to go to Arlington on Memorial Day since that is what the day is all about, it amazes me that people have the gall to interrupt a family while they are visiting their loved one's grave! How inconsiderate and selfish can people be?! Since I am one of those people who sees a soldier in the airport and feels a strong need to say thanks and shake their hand, I understand wanting to express your gratefulness, but NOT in a graveyard!!! As for taking pictures of family members during such a private moment as if they are a tourist attraction, well that is not too far off the mark of people who feel the need to protest at a soldier's funeral. It just goes beyond the pale!
For those wondering, Arlington only allows reporters to do interviews like that on Memorial Day weekend. I wonder why they even allow it then.
There have been moments when I think that Bryant deserves the prestige and honor of being at Arlington, but after hearing my friend's story, I am very happy that Bryant's ashes sit in our living room...
At the end of the weekend and before leaving for home, she went back to spend a few more moments at his gravesite. As she sat there on the ground, head down crying, she heard a click and looked up to see a lady next to her, taking her picture. The lady walked around her husband's grave, knelt down and started asking questions and then took another picture. WTF?!!
My friend mentioned also that she recognized a Gold Star father whose son was buried near her husband and went over to talk with him. The father was talking to someone who ended up being a reporter looking to do interviews with the families there. Needless to say, my friend found very little peace while she was there.
While I do applaud people who care enough to go to Arlington on Memorial Day since that is what the day is all about, it amazes me that people have the gall to interrupt a family while they are visiting their loved one's grave! How inconsiderate and selfish can people be?! Since I am one of those people who sees a soldier in the airport and feels a strong need to say thanks and shake their hand, I understand wanting to express your gratefulness, but NOT in a graveyard!!! As for taking pictures of family members during such a private moment as if they are a tourist attraction, well that is not too far off the mark of people who feel the need to protest at a soldier's funeral. It just goes beyond the pale!
For those wondering, Arlington only allows reporters to do interviews like that on Memorial Day weekend. I wonder why they even allow it then.
There have been moments when I think that Bryant deserves the prestige and honor of being at Arlington, but after hearing my friend's story, I am very happy that Bryant's ashes sit in our living room...
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