National Military Easter Sunrise Service: April 20

The annual Easter Sunrise Service, hosted by Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, will be held at Memorial Amphitheater on Sunday, April 20. 

Published on: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 read more ...

AUTHORS

Author: Kevin M. Hymel
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Medal of Honor Recipients Lay Wreath at Tomb of Unknown Soldier

By Kevin M. Hymel on 3/29/2022

On National Medal of Honor Day, March 25, 2022, two Vietnam veterans, with Medals of Honor draped around their necks, laid a wreath from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society at Arlington National Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The two men together symbolized the opening and closing of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Barney Barnum, a retired colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps, earned his medal on December 18, 1965, as American grounds troops began arriving in South Vietnam. Brian Thacker, who served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, earned his on March 31, 1971, as U.S. troops gradually withdrew from the country.

Kevin M. Hymel
Contract Historian
Kevin M. Hymel

USS Oklahoma Sailor Buried at Arlington National Cemetery

By Kevin M. Hymel on 3/25/2022

Seaman 1st Class Walt Stein’s life was cut short on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The 20-year-old sailor from Cheyenne, Wyoming, was serving onboard the battleship USS Oklahoma when Japanese torpedo bombers struck the ship multiple times. The Oklahoma quickly capsized, killing 429 crewmen, including Stein. But his body remained unidentified, leaving his family to wonder about his fate for decades.

Kevin M. Hymel
Contract Historian
Kevin M. Hymel

Army Band Members Honor Musician Lt. James Reese Europe

By Kevin M. Hymel on 3/1/2022

On February 22, 2022, a small group of soldiers — some in black coats with gold lanyards and red service caps, others in World War I period “doughboy” uniforms — gathered at the grave of Lieutenant James Reese Europe. They were there for a ceremony to honor the anniversary of his birthday, in 1881. Europe, a renowned musical innovator, served as a Black officer in the segregated U.S. Army during World War I. He led the band for the 369th Infantry Regiment, the famed “Harlem Hellfighters.”

Kevin M. Hymel
Contract Historian
Kevin M. Hymel

Braving the Cold, Collecting Wreaths

By Kevin M. Hymel on 1/25/2022

Despite the 12-degree temperatures on the morning of January 22, 2022, people roamed through Arlington National Cemetery removing wreaths from headstones. To these volunteers, braving the cold weather to collect wreaths was only a small sacrifice. To them, it was way to honor those who sacrificed all.

Kevin M. Hymel
Contract Historian
Kevin M. Hymel

Graves B. Erskine: Marine Hero Who Commanded the Unknown Soldier’s Honor Guard

By Kevin M. Hymel on 11/4/2021

In honor of the 246th birthday of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) on November 10, and the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, we highlight Graves B. Erskine, who is buried in Section 5 of the cemetery. A USMC World War I veteran and future general, then-Captain Erskine commanded the guard of honor that watched over the Unknown’s casket during its turbulent voyage from France to the United States aboard the USS Olympia from October 25 to November 9, 1921.

Kevin M. Hymel
Contract Historian
Kevin M. Hymel

Andre Maginot: The French Patriot Who Bade Farewell to the Unknown Soldier

By Kevin M. Hymel on 10/22/2021

On October 25, 1921, France’s Minister of Pensions, André Maginot, stood before the flag-draped casket of America’s Unknown Soldier on the dock at Le Havre, France. Flanked by members of the American and French military, civilians, and cameramen, he concluded his remarks by speaking to both the American Unknown Soldier and the French Unknown Soldier: “We can no more separate you than we can separate the two flags which the enemy brought together,” he stated. Then, tall and erect even while leaning on a cane, Maginot placed the French Legion of Honor medal on the casket before it was borne on the shoulders of American sailors and marines for the journey home aboard the USS Olympia.

Kevin M. Hymel
Contract Historian
Kevin M. Hymel

Patton and World War I’s Unknown Soldier

By Kevin M. Hymel on 10/20/2021

In 1921, Major George S. Patton Jr. held an important role during ceremonies for America’s World War I Unknown Soldier. The man who would become an iconic general, known for commanding victorious armies in World War II, was then the commander of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment’s 3rd Cavalry Squadron. On November 9, 1921, Patton helped escort the Unknown Soldier’s casket from the USS Olympia to the U.S. Capitol, where the Unknown would lie in state for two days. On November 11, the day of the Unknown’s burial ceremony, he marched in the procession that escorted the casket to Arlington National Cemetery.

Kevin M. Hymel
Contract Historian
Kevin M. Hymel

Public Invited to Honor the Centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

By Kevin M. Hymel on 10/13/2021

Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) is inviting the public to participate in honoring the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier centennial. This November 11 will mark 100 years since the Unknown Soldier from World War I was laid to rest in the newly constructed Tomb on the plaza of the cemetery’s Memorial Amphitheater.

Kevin M. Hymel
Contract Historian
Kevin M. Hymel

ANC Remembers One of Thousands Who Sacrificed All on D-Day

By Kevin M. Hymel on 6/5/2020

In honor of the 76th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, we remember one of the thousands of ordinary Americans and Allies who sacrificed their lives in the long effort to liberate Europe during World War II.

Kevin M. Hymel
Contract Historian
Kevin M. Hymel

“Beetle” Smith and the Surrender of Nazi Germany

By Kevin M. Hymel on 5/8/2020

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, today we spotlight U.S. Army Lieutenant General Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith (1895-1961) who is buried in Section 7 of Arlington National Cemetery.