Latest news with #nationalcemetery
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
5 Reasons why a national cemetery belongs on your summer road trip itinerary
Summer is here, and while theme parks and roadside attractions promise excitement, there's one unexpected stop that might leave the most profound impact: a national cemetery. Many military families are planning their PCS travels, summer visits to their hometowns, and bucket-list stops, but what if your most meaningful stop this summer isn't on a thrill ride or waterfront escape? What if it is somewhere quieter and more peaceful? A visit to a national cemetery is not only a wonderful and solemn way to pay your respects, but it is also a remarkable way to learn and enjoy a beautiful place. As a veteran and military spouse, I understand the importance of pausing to express gratitude for someone else's sacrifice, and I truly don't take it lightly. This is exactly how I now get to write this, because in our own travels as a family, we have chosen to stop at many national cemeteries to be there when it seems to be extra quiet. So, what if during your summer travels you include these resting places to reflect on the ones that made your freedom to travel possible? Honor the Fallen Physically visiting a national cemetery in person can help you connect with sacrifice. Headstones stretching across lawns while flags wave in the wind give you time to reflect and learn to pause in the middle of a busy summer. Each headstone represents a life of service as well as someone left behind to continue a legacy. There are over 150 national cemeteries in the United States, each of which uniquely preserves that sacrifice and history. From the iconic and historic grounds at Arlington National Cemetery to the beautiful grounds of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (which rests on Punchbowl Crater on O'ahu) to the picturesque view from the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery overlooking San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean. These places are sacred spaces, where honor and the beautiful grounds come together in remembrance. You can honor the fallen through your travels by learning the story, visiting these spaces, reading their names, and leaving coins or flowers behind. Teach, Reflect, and Connect with Military History Reflecting on the power of legacy is not only for those who have lost a service member, but also for the families who can visit these resting places to create time for important conversations with younger generations. Families can make the most of these visits, allowing their children of all ages to learn about the ultimate sacrifice, talk about the history of wars, the different service eras, and why remembering matters. These sites are not only perfect for families to learn and find connection, but also for history buffs to discover the preserved stories and appreciate the extensive visitor centers and historic sections. You can also learn about the local history where the cemetery is located, including battles in the region. A visit to a national cemetery during your summer road trip provides everyone with the opportunity to learn about a timeline of events in American military service, spanning major conflicts and eras of combat and non-combat. These sacred places are part of who we are as a country and how we can remember and learn from the service and sacrifice of those who served our military. Scenic Beauty National cemeteries can be found in some of the most beautiful spots in the country. Along the coast, overlooking the ocean, surrounded by rolling hills, showcasing mountain backdrops… these sacred places are hidden sanctuaries with panoramic views. These road trip stops can offer breathtaking vistas in a quiet, solemn way that beats the summer crowds and rushing of the PCS season. For example, the Chattanooga National Cemetery, located in Tennessee, offers stunning views of rolling green hills and Lookout Mountain. The landscape is also steeped in Civil War history, enticing visitors to learn more about the country's past. If you love the tranquility of the desert climate, visiting the Bakersfield National Cemetery will reveal its beauty while nestled in the foothills of the Tehachapi Mountains. The white headstones rest in an area with wide-open stretches of land, with native flora that offers a quiet and beautiful setting. From the desert to a semi-rural mountain landscape, you can visit the Tahoma National Cemetery in Washington. This resting place offers beautiful views of Mt. Rainier, spanning over 158 acres with a lush and evergreen forest setting. These places offer calm and stillness, surrounded by landscapes that provide a natural setting without distraction. We know the summer season is filled with busy roads, beachside crowds, loud amusement parks, and chaotic PCS moves. We know finding peace in the chaos can be difficult ,but our national cemeteries offer just that, a rare break from all of that. A restful stop on hallowed ground that shares American history with stunning views, allowing us to honor and remember. These shouldn't just be detours; they can be summer destinations. Destinations that offer reflection and can become memorable experiences. Whether you're a military family, a history buff, or simply someone looking for meaningful moments in your travels, a stop at a national cemetery will stay with you long after the trip ends. Don't Miss the Best of Mighty Milspouse We Are The Mighty is a celebration of military service, with a mission to entertain, inform, and inspire those who serve and those who support them. We are made by and for current service members, veterans, spouses, family members, and civilians who want to be part of this community. Keep up with the best in military culture and entertainment: subscribe to the We Are The Mighty newsletter. These hacks are 'totes' the smart way to PCS These military spouses were unsung heroes of American history 9 Incredible day trips from Stuttgart, Germany for any military family
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Arlington National Cemetery reminded Donald Trump Jr. of his family's 'sacrifices,' he wrote
Claim: Donald Trump Jr. said driving through Arlington National Cemetery reminded him of "all the sacrifices we'd have to make — giving up a huge chunk of our business and all international deals." Rating: According to internet rumors, Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump, said a visit to Virginia's Arlington National Cemetery conjured reflection on the hardships and sacrifices his family has faced over the years. Arlington National Cemetery's website describes the site as a place to honor "those who have served our nation. … This impressive landscape serves as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of every individual laid to rest within these hallowed grounds." While this particular rumor about Trump Jr. has percolated online for years, it resurfaced in May 2025 following criticism of a social media post by the president on Memorial Day that offered scathing remarks about his political opponents rather than reflecting the purpose of Memorial Day to honor fallen service members. Many posts sharing the claim, such as those on TikTok (archived) and Facebook (archived), quoted the junior Trump as saying, "As we drove past the rows of white grave markers … I also thought of … all the sacrifices we'd have to make — giving up a huge chunk of our business and all international deals." This quote is correctly attributed to Donald Trump Jr. He wrote those words in his 2019 book, "Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us." The full passage from the book read: Meanwhile, it also took two months for me to realize the enormity of what my father had accomplished, and the weight of the job that he'd won. It was the day before the inauguration, and we were driving into Arlington National Cemetery, where he was to lay a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I rarely get emotional, if ever. I guess you'd call me hyper-rational, stoic. Yet, as we drove past the rows of white grave markers, in the gravity of the moment, I had a deep sense of the importance of the presidency and a love of our country. I was never prouder of my father than when I watched as he stood before the tomb, his hand over his heart, while the Army bugler played "Taps." In that moment, I also thought of all the attacks we'd already suffered as a family, and about all the sacrifices we'd have to make to help my father succeed — voluntarily giving up a huge chunk of our business and all international deals to avoid the appearance that we were "profiting off the office." We're not talking about business with any foreign government agencies. This was based on the idea that we might be taken advantage of by a private business that would then have leverage on us. First of all, I don't think Trump Org has ever gotten duped by anyone and, second, the chances of something like that even being attempted are pretty remote. Frankly, it was a big sacrifice, costing us millions and millions of dollars annually, a huge book of business that I had personally built. But it was a sacrifice we were more than happy and willing to make. Of course, we didn't get any credit whatsoever from the mainstream media, which now does not surprise me at all. ("Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us") Political commentators and veterans criticized Trump's comments at the time of the book's publication. Vanity Fair ran an opinion piece with the headline "Donald Trump Jr. Thinks Not Doing Foreign Deals is the Same as Dying in Battle." The BBC reported: "Arizona Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego, who fought in Iraq, responded on Twitter: 'Eight men I served with are buried in Section 60 of Arlington' … 'I visit them monthly. Even if Donald Jr lived a 1,000 years, he will never even get close to being as good and honourable as they were.'" Salon's managing editor wrote that the book "finds the son of the most powerful man in the world complaining that his family is the victim of unfair attacks. In one passage, Don Jr. refutes critics who have called his father 'racist' by pointing out that Trump allowed him and Eric to play with Michael Jackson as children and let him go on vacation with former NFL star Herschel Walker." Snopes also has reported on Donald Trump Jr.'s comments questioning why "Dr. Jill Biden" missed former President Joe Biden's cancer. Arlington Cemetery Dead Remind Trump Jr of His Father's "Sacrifices." 8 Nov. 2019. Christensen, Laerke. "Trump Wished Happy Memorial Day to 'scum' That Spent Last 4 Years 'Trying to Destroy Our Country.'" Snopes, 27 May 2025, Derysh, Igor. "Don Jr. Says Fallen Troops at Arlington National Cemetery Remind Him of Trump Family's 'Sacrifices.'" Salon, 8 Nov. 2019, Levin, Bess. "Don Jr. Thinks Not Doing Foreign Deals Is the Same as Dying in Battle." Vanity Fair, 7 Nov. 2019, Member, Politics Newsweek Is A. Trust Project. "Veteran Tells Trump Jr. to Join Military If He Wants to Know 'Sacrifice.'" Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2019, Trump, Donald. Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us. First edition., Center Street, 2019. "Trump Honors Fallen Soldiers on Memorial Day, While Attacking Biden and Judges." AP News, 26 May 2025,
