About Arlington National Cemetery:
Arlington National Cemetery was established in May 13, 1864. covers 639 acres and nearly 400,000 people are buried here. One of the more notable, of course, is President John F. Kennedy…one of only two presidents (the other is President William Howard Taft) buried here, since most chose to be buried in their home towns.
An area called “Chaplains Hill” honors military chaplains killed in the line of duty, and one of those lists the names of Catholic chaplains. A monument to 83 Catholic chaplains who died in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War was dedicated on May 21, 1989.
Father (Major) William Barragy, the first American chaplain to die in Vietnam, is among those named on the monument. Barragy was killed on May 4, 1966, in a helicopter crash with 20 men on a mission for the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, and posthumously received the Legion of Merit. The monument’s inscription reads, “May God grant peace to them and to the nation they served so well.”
Most notable, perhaps is The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: a white marble sarcophagus on a hill overlooking Washington, D.C. Since 1921, it has provided a final resting place for one of America’s unidentified World War I service members. Unknowns from later wars were added in 1958 and 1984. The Tomb has also serves as a place of mourning and a site for reflection on military service.
Traveling to Arlington National Cemetery:
The cemetery is open daily.
Address: 1 Memorial Ave., Arlington, VA 22211.
Phone: +1 (877) 907-8585