Situated in Arlington county, in state of Virginia, spread across 264 acres of land from Potomac river to Lincoln Memorial is this national monument; Arlington National Cemetery. And it has Pentagon bordering one of its sides. Arlington Cemetery's lush green slopes shelter the war veterans of almost every war this country has gone through.

This place is well connected to the entire city by the Washington metro rail facility, entrance to the Cemetery is 5 minutes walk from metro station. Cemetery is open for visitors from 8 a.m - 5 p.m in winter (Oct through Mar) and 8 a.m - 7 p.m in summer (Apr through Sept). A tourmobile facilitates guided tour. But one can always walk around and see the place, the map and details about the gravesites is available in the information counter at the entrance. Maps in larger boards are also present from place to place, with 'you are here' signs, so that people like me and my friends wont get lost.

Enter the Cemetry and a calm, serene and yet proud atmosphere welcomes you there. Lush green fields with trees, some very old some planted few years back many be, and scores of tombs in granite and marble aligned in a proper Military disciplined way. About 290,000 serviceman rest in this land, and an average 24 burials are done every weekday. These gravesites reflect the ups and downs of American History, beginning with the Civil war. The Spanish-American war in 1898, World War I and II, Vietnam War and many other such historical moments are captured in this Cemetery. The most visited site is, the gravesite of President John F Kennedy, where Cape Cod stones frame the eternal flame and "with history the final judge of our deeds..." quoted from his inaugural address.

This huge piece of land was once an American gentleman, Robert E Lee's family property. During Civil War, the then General Meigs proposed 200 acres of Lee's land to be taken as Cemetery. But by the end of the war graves filled space close Lee's house. Heir to the property Curtis Lee sued the Government disputing his claim to ownership of his family land, and Congress ended up paying him $150,000 for the land.

The Memorial Amphitheater and Tomb of the Unknowns and another couple of most visited sections of the Arlington Cemetery. Memorial Day is celebrated in remembrance of the dedication to country and patriotism of thousands of war veterans and the Memorial Amphitheater is the setting for the observances. Flags adorn the arches around the marble benches and the podium where tribute is paid. Each gravesite is decorated with the national flag on Memorial Day.

In east of Amphitheatre visitors can attend the timeless rituals at the Tomb of Unknowns. A sentinel performs the rite around the clock, he paces 21 steps down the mat in front of the tomb, pauses for 21 seconds and returns. When we reached there it was almost 7 pm, the silent steps, clinging of metals in the boots in the backdrop of the setting sun, filled me with warm patriotic feeling. As much as I hate war and the bloodshed and loss of so many precious life caused by it, with the same amount of passion I revere the brave soldiers who fight for a country, die for a greater cause.

We could walk around and cover most of the important sections (or so we thought) in about 3 hours, and this time includes taking the wrong path and getting lost couple of times on our way to the Amphitheatre. But the trip was good, it left us with a warm patriotic feeling even though this is not my country, or they are not my countrymen who died bravely in Wars and buried here. But a courage, endurance and spirit of service that great could not be stopped from being revered just by physical boundaries or political differences.