As we celebrate our many freedoms, remember our greatest heroes, and gather with family and friends this holiday weekend, I’m reminded of a great day in Washington DC in 2012. 

We were there to watch some kids we know and love participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington – an honor they received due to their exceptional academic achievement.  And yet, it became a Day to Remember as we visited the Vietnam Wall, the Korean War Memorial, and located the tombstones of family buried at Arlington.

If you haven’t stood on a hill and looked across the massive expanse of Arlington, you should.  And if you haven’t been witness to the immensely respectful precision and discipline of the honor guard at the Tomb, trust that you are unprepared to be so moved.

The best of this country is not on a hill in Washington where loyalties are politically aligned, preserved with bias, and separated by an aisle.  No, the very best are remembered as they rest among the rolling hills just across the river in Arlington.  You see, the sound of freedom may be debate among few, yet the price of freedom is the silence of many.

If you’re interested in seeing some remembrances of that day in 2012, click on the link below and launch the slide show when the file opens. 

If you’re thinking of summer destinations, add Arlington to your list.  Take the kids for a walk among our country’s greatest.  You’ll be amazed at just how moving stillness can be.

DC 18 MAY 2012 FINAL (2)