150 Years Ago Today

After seizing the home and land of Gen. Robert E. Lee the union army occupied the land until it was determined that the estate would be used to form what is now known as Arlington National Cemetery and 150 years ago to the day, the first resident, an Army Pvt. William Christman was interned. Christman was an enlistee of the 67th Pennsylvania Infantry that died from measles five weeks after enlisting in the army and was buried on May 13th of 1864.

There are many interesting stories and accounts of events at Arlington, perhaps one of the stranger one was the burial of an “unknown” soldier from the Viet Nam war that was not unknown at all. Lt. Michael Blassie died in Viet Nam in 1972 after being shot down. After much debate and extraordinary political pressure, his remains were interned in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on May 28, 1984 with a stirring speech and the award of the Medal of Honor with Michael’s remains where they remained for 14 years until the CBS Evening News aired the story of Air Force Lt. Michael J. Blassie being the remains in the Tomb of the Unknown. With a strong public outcry the remains were examined and verified by DNA testing. Finally, on July 11, 1998 Lt. Blassie was reinterned, at the request of his family in St. Louis at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as four low flying F-15’s passed overhead with one pulling up to signify the “missing man” formation.

Today that Medal of Honor that was awarded on Memorial Day in 1984 by President Regan remains on display, reminding visitors of the heroism and dedication that goes with so many, especially those interned in the tomb of the Unknown. None have been added since the Korean war and due to the advances of medical history, DNA testing, etc there is a very good chance that no additions will be made again. For most this is the better solution, meaning there will be no more families waiting at home for news that will never come. All shall find a final place of peaceful rest in the soil of their homeland.

Today is certainly not a day of joy, but a somber remembrance of how great the cost of war really is and will always be. As we remember the past 150 years and look forward to the end of the current war in Afghanistan we must not forget the cost of war and why we should all hope and pray this one will be the last.