We took a day to drive over to Arlington Cemetery for the purposes of visiting the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. When we first walked in we were going to walk the grounds. Thank goodness we didn't, otherwise we probably would have been the next residents here. It was really hilly. The picture below does not do it justice as to how hilly it really was, but you can take my word for it. If you are young and in shape you could handle it but otherwise there is a hop on hop off tour tram or trolley or whatever it is called.

The tram makes three stops. One is at the Kennedy tomb and eternal flame, next is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Robert E Lee mansion.

 This is the JFK burial site the flame is in the back and the tomb stone for the President is on the left and Jackie is on the right. It was roped off so we couldn't get the printing on it. I did get part of JFKs inaugural speech which he asks not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country.

 Here is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It is a very quiet place out of respect for the soldier and monuments purpose.

 This is the soldier guarding the monument. It is being guarded by soldiers out of the 3rd Regiment of the U.S. Army. They have been guarding the tomb ever since its inception. The soldier below marches back and forth every few minutes. He takes 21 steps in each cycle back and forth. The step count is the same as the count of rifles shots fired at a funeral for a veteran who has deceased. This is the final salute to the departed.

 Here is a view of the Arlington House that was a plantation with a thousand acres and was built by the step Grandson, George Washington Parke Custis,  as a monument to his Grandfather,  George Washington. He adored his step-grandfather and decorated the house with his heirlooms. He  also did paintings of George Washington.  Custis daughter married Robert E. Lee, who later lived in the house for 30 years and raised 7 children there.  The Lees left the house at the start of the Civil War and the plantation was taken over by the Union soldiers.  After the war, soldiers were buried on the property and then became Arlington National Cemetery.  The house overlooks Washington DC.  John F. Kennedy's grave is just below the hill in the front and the tomb of the unknowns is also close by.

Robert E. Lee was a General in the Union Army before the civil war. He chose to resign his commission with the Union Army and became a General in the Confederate Army. He chose this direction as he didn't want to fight against his own family.

From the front of Arlington house looking at Washington DC.  Pierre Charles L'Enfant is buried here.  Under the direction of George Washington, He designed the plan for the Federal City.

Family tree of Martha and George Washington.  The photo on the left where you only see "Edward Lee" is Robert E. Lee. 

The various rooms of the Arlington House are shown below.  Most are original paintings and furniture

The Grandson who built the house also did some painting.  He idolized his step-Grandfather, George Washington and painted several pictures of him, including this large one.

Salina Gray was Mrs. Lee's personal maid and later the head housekeeper. Her parents had been Mt. Vernon slaves, so she grew up steeped in the lore of George Washington. In May of 1861 on the eve of the Civil War, Mrs. Lee abandoned her home. She left the household keys with Mrs. Gray entrusting her with the "Washington Treasury", cherished heirlooms that once belonged to George and Martha Washington.  By assuming stewardship of these revered artifacts, Mrs. Gray became, in a broad sense, the guardian of the heritage of the young nation.