Thousands of tourists and Washington-area residents journeyed to Arlington National Cemetery and the National Mall on Monday to honor the nation’s fallen and pay tribute to the U.S. armed forces on Memorial Day.
David and Sue Knight of Alexandria were there to honor two veterans — David Knight’s father, Hale H. Knight, who served in the Army infantry in Burma and Vietnam, and Albert J. Zlogar, his brother-in-law’s father, a Marine who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
David Knight said growing up in the Vietnam era amid the legacy of the “greatest generation” imbued him with a certain perspective on military veterans.
“You can take one day a year — if not more — to honor fallen veterans,” he said. “You appreciate [the armed forces] a little more with each passing year.”
The Knights laid a bouquet of flowers at Zlogar’s headstone and were on their way to Hale Knight’s, whose headstone was in another part of the cemetery, David said.
Soon after, on a tour bus heading back toward the cemetery entrance, guide Norm Lindeblad pointed out the perfect military alignment — diagonally, horizontally and vertically — of the headstones in one section of the cemetery.
“Standing at attention, for life or for death — standing at attention for eternity … for the freedoms and the liberties that we enjoy today,” he said.
As the bus eased toward the visitor’s center, he urged people on board to remember what they had seen.
“Please remember — those freedoms and those liberties that we have do come with a cost,” he said. “Freedom is not free.”
Elsewhere, people gathered at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial for its annual Memorial Day observance at about 1 p.m. Peter Holt, owner of the San Antonio Spurs, was this year’s keynote speaker.
Dwight Hoskins of Chantilly said he enjoyed the observance, and that as a Vietnam War veteran, he tries to visit the memorial several times a year. When he worked at the Federal Reserve Board across the street, he was able to witness much of the wall’s construction.
Soon after, bands and veterans marched down Constitution Avenue in the National Memorial Day Parade, which halted briefly at 3 p.m. for a national moment of silence.
