In the off season, I enjoy randomly walking through Arlington National Cemetery. I love the quiet dignity of the honored dead at rest in their final formation.
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It’s one of my favorite places to bring visitors. And one of the questions I always get is Why are some grave markers larger than others?
Many assume that these markers are for high-ranking officers or those who died while committing some heroic feat. No. These are just rich folks.
See, in the early days of the cemetery, wealthy families of the deceased were allowed to erect these large, private markers. They were a status symbol of sorts, some of them done by famous artists. And this was common in cemeteries across the country.
But after WWII, Arlington takes on a more egalitarian nature. It’s more focused on the commonalties of those buried here. There was a feeling that one should be remembered for his or her service, not their social position.
Think about it, when one joins the service, they wear a uniform. The uniform is a great equalizer – a symbol of a group working together toward common goal. So, in 1947 the Army, which runs this place, ruled that in death, those who have served will wear the same uniform, this simple marble marker. Private markers could only be placed in sections of the cemetery that already had them. And when those sections were filled, no more private markers.
This idea was furthered the next year with President Harry Truman’s order to desegregate the armed services. And this ends the practice of segregated sections here at Arlington.
But perhaps the biggest change was a symbolic one. A gift of sorts from one of the greatest soldiers of his time. Five-star General of the Army John J. Pershing led American forces in WWI. As the Great War faded into memory most forgot about Pershing. He watched WWII play out from the sidelines and lived out his final years at Walter Reed Army Hospital.
Pershing had very specific wishes for his burial. As the country’s most senior military officer he could have commandeered prime real estate at Arlington for his plot and had a huge monument commissioned. Several of his lower ranking colleagues did just that.
But no. Pershing selected a site among his WWI men. He said, “When the last bugle call is sounded, I want to stand up with my soldiers.” Even in death, he was a true leader.
The last private marker here was installed in 2017. Now everyone from private to general receives the same marble stone. It’s provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to any veteran, whether you’re buried here or anywhere.
