Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia, is an American military cemetery established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Robert E. Lee's home. It is situated directly across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., next to the present day location of The Pentagon, and is served by the Arlington Cemetery station on the Blue Line of the Washington Metro system.

Tomb of the Unknowns

The Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery is also known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and has never been officially named. The Tomb of the Unknowns stands atop a hill overlooking Washington, D.C.

Related Topics:
Tomb of the Unknowns - Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One of the more popular sites at the Cemetery, the Tomb is made from Yule marble quarried in Colorado. It consists of seven pieces, with a total weight of 79 short tons (72 metric tons). The Tomb was completed and opened to the public April 9, 1932, at a cost of $48,000.

Related Topics:
Weight - Short ton - Metric ton - April 9 - 1932

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was at first the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier." Other unknown servicemen were later buried there, and the name became "Tomb of the Unknowns."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Unknown Soldier of World War I, interred November 11, 1921. President Warren G. Harding presided.
• Unknown Soldier of World War II, interred May 30, 1958. President Dwight Eisenhower presided.
• Unknown Soldier of the Korean War, interred May 30, 1958. President Dwight Eisenhower presided, Vice President Richard Nixon acted as next of kin.
• Unknown Soldier of the Vietnam War, interred May 28, 1984. President Ronald Reagan presided. The remains of the Vietnam Unknown were disinterred May 14, 1998, and were identified as those of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael J. Blassie, whose family has reinterred him near their home in St. Louis, Missouri. It has been determined that the crypt at the Tomb of the Unknowns that contained the remains of the Vietnam Unknown will remain empty.

The Tomb of the Unknowns is guarded by the U.S. Army 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) began guarding the Tomb April 6, 1948.

Related Topics:
April 6 - 1948

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~