Great Lakes National Cemetery

After an early and successful dentist appointment, I decided to take a drive in the country to try to offset a dreary day. I ended up in one of our countrys newest national cemeteries, near Holly, Michigan.

If national cemeteries can be called beautiful...I've seen some beautiful national cemeteries.

In Fort Smith, Arkansas, at dawns first light...my dad, our friend Mike, and I visited Fort Smith National Cemetery. The early sun created long shadows of the headstones, and the morning dew made things sparkle. Both Union and Confederate soldiers are buried there.

Another trip with the same 3 guys took us to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, which incorporates the George Armstrong Custer National Cemetery. It's a sobering scene to look out over the battlefield and see countless small headstones with the simple message " A soldier fell here", or " A warrior fell here". We hit that place with only a half-hour until it closed, so we got to see the setting sun on the headstones.

In a history filled vacation with my wife, her sister and her husband, we went to the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. It is a Civil War cemetery. The thing that struck me there was the simple 8 by 8 headstones in the ground that simply stated "4 men buried here", " 11 men buried here", and the largest mass grave I saw "43 men buried here". Again...very sobering and thought-provoking.

On that same trip we went to the grand-daddy of all cemeteries- Arlington, just across the river from Washington, D.C. 250,000 soldiers, and counting, buried there. It is a sea of white and green. It is a scene that attacks your senses and your brain waves. You don't know whether to be sad or proud. At the Arlington House, where Robert E. Lee lived...they tell stories of having so many casualities that they just started throwing the bodies over the cliff that is in front of the house. The eternal flame at the grave of President Kennedy reminds you of that awful day in Dallas. The changing of the guard, and the 24 hour a day march at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier gives you both chills up your spine and brings tears to your eyes.

National Cemeteries...I don't know what to think of them. This one in Holly is in a beautiful setting. There are flags and stone walls, and trees and a small lake. Birds flying around. Geese calling it home. All that being said...I wish there was no need to have places to bury our soldiers. A world without war... A wonderful image.

Putting aside any political and military opinions...as i gazed out over the rows of markers and at the rows of flags, I wanted to thank David, Larry, Stanley, Bill, Brenda, Herbert, and Katie for their service to our country. May they rest in peace.