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Continue ReadingAmerican flags and American military uniforms feature the U.S. flag; however, its placement on uniforms is unusual, as it is worn facing backward. The rule is that the blue field of stars should always be in the highest position of honor on the uniform. That position has always been the right shoulder with the flag’s blue stars facing forward. The idea behind the backward American flag on Army uniforms is to make it look as though the flag is flying in the breeze as the person wearing it moves forward. During the Civil War, both mounted cavalry and infantry units would designate a standard bearer, who carried the flag into battle. As this standard bearer charged, his forward momentum caused the flag to stream back. Since the Stars and Stripes are mounted with the canton closest to the pole, that section of the flag stayed to the right, while the stripes flew to the left. Therefore, the flag is worn on the right shoulder, and wearing it backward gives the effect of the flag flying in the breeze as the wearer moves forward. The regulation states that the stars are to face forward. When authorized for application to the proper uniform the American flag patch is to be worn, right or left shoulder. One of the flags will, therefore, be reversed (right shoulder) in order to adhere to the regulation and custom of having the stars facing forward. The term, “Assaulting Forward” has been adopted by combat troops (instead of “facing forward”).
Continue ReadingAmerican flags and American military uniforms feature the U.S. flag; however, its placement on uniforms is unusual, as it is worn facing backward. The rule is that the blue field of stars should always be in the highest position of honor on the uniform. That position has always been the right shoulder with the flag’s blue stars facing forward. The idea behind the backward American flag on Army uniforms is to make it look as though the flag is flying in the breeze as the person wearing it moves forward. During the Civil War, both mounted cavalry and infantry units would designate a standard bearer, who carried the flag into battle. As this standard bearer charged, his forward momentum caused the flag to stream back. Since the Stars and Stripes are mounted with the canton closest to the pole, that section of the flag stayed to the right, while the stripes flew to the left. Therefore, the flag is worn on the right shoulder, and wearing it backward gives the effect of the flag flying in the breeze as the wearer moves forward. The regulation states that the stars are to face forward. When authorized for application to the proper uniform the American flag patch is to be worn, right or left shoulder. One of the flags will, therefore, be reversed (right shoulder) in order to adhere to the regulation and custom of having the stars facing forward. The term, “Assaulting Forward” has been adopted by combat troops (instead of “facing forward”).
Continue ReadingSeen towering above the graves in Section 54, dusted with a fresh coating of snow is the Arlington House. Before Arlington National Cemetery ever existed, it was Lee’s Arlington estate. But after Lee resigned from the U.S. Army to lead the Confederate forces, the property was occupied by the Army and later purchased by the U.S government in 1864. As Washington area hospitals overflowed with Civil War casualties, the estate was designated a national cemetery. After the war, several Union leaders were concerned that Lee would try to reclaim his property and remove the graves and tombs. One of these people, Quartermaster General Montgomery Meigs, decided that the best way to ensure the cemetery’s permanence was to bury soldiers as close to the main house as possible. He got his way in August of 1864, when 26 fallen soldiers were buried by the perimeter of Lee’s rose garden. This might seem like an extreme measure, but there is proof that the Lees had an interest in returning to their estate and dislocating soldiers’ graves in the process. Robert E. Lee’s brother, Smith Lee, is recorded to have said “the house could still be made a pleasant residence, by fencing off the Cemetery, and removing the officers buried around the garden.” However, the plan to move the graves even closer seemed to have worked. Robert E. Lee never returned to his Arlington estate. No one knows if it was because his front lawn became a graveyard or because he had just had enough with the Washington area, but Lee moved to Lexington, Virginia and died five years later. He is buried at Lee Chapel in Lexington, and not in Arlington Cemetery where he once lived.
Continue ReadingSeen towering above the graves in Section 54, dusted with a fresh coating of snow is the Arlington House. Before Arlington National Cemetery ever existed, it was Lee’s Arlington estate. But after Lee resigned from the U.S. Army to lead the Confederate forces, the property was occupied by the Army and later purchased by the U.S government in 1864. As Washington area hospitals overflowed with Civil War casualties, the estate was designated a national cemetery. After the war, several Union leaders were concerned that Lee would try to reclaim his property and remove the graves and tombs. One of these people, Quartermaster General Montgomery Meigs, decided that the best way to ensure the cemetery’s permanence was to bury soldiers as close to the main house as possible. He got his way in August of 1864, when 26 fallen soldiers were buried by the perimeter of Lee’s rose garden. This might seem like an extreme measure, but there is proof that the Lees had an interest in returning to their estate and dislocating soldiers’ graves in the process. Robert E. Lee’s brother, Smith Lee, is recorded to have said “the house could still be made a pleasant residence, by fencing off the Cemetery, and removing the officers buried around the garden.” However, the plan to move the graves even closer seemed to have worked. Robert E. Lee never returned to his Arlington estate. No one knows if it was because his front lawn became a graveyard or because he had just had enough with the Washington area, but Lee moved to Lexington, Virginia and died five years later. He is buried at Lee Chapel in Lexington, and not in Arlington Cemetery where he once lived.
Continue ReadingThe USS Maine Memorial in Section 24 of Arlington National Cemetery was dedicated this week of February in the year 1915 — seventeen years after the battleship exploded on the night of February 15, 1898 in Havana Harbor, Cuba, killing more than 260 American sailors on board. The Maine had been sent to protect U.S. economic interests in Cuba, where rebels were fighting for independence from colonial Spain. Historians are still unsure what caused the explosion, but outraged Americans, fueled by sensationalist journalism, widely blamed Cuba. The United States declared war against Spain on April 25, 1898, with “Remember the Maine!” a popular pro-war rallying cry. The war was over in less than four months, with Spain surrendering on August 12, 1898. However, the Spanish-American War had enormous historical impact. During the conflict, the United States acquired overseas territories, confirmed its status as the dominant nation in the Western Hemisphere and began a new era as a major world power. Arlington National Cemetery contains more monuments and burial sites related to the Spanish-American War than any other location in the continental United States. The USS Maine Memorial features the actual mast from the ship, with the names of those who died in the explosion inscribed onto its base. The ship’s bell is welded into the door of the base. The remains of 229 sailors are buried near the memorial.
Continue ReadingThe USS Maine Memorial in Section 24 of Arlington National Cemetery was dedicated this week of February in the year 1915 — seventeen years after the battleship exploded on the night of February 15, 1898 in Havana Harbor, Cuba, killing more than 260 American sailors on board. The Maine had been sent to protect U.S. economic interests in Cuba, where rebels were fighting for independence from colonial Spain. Historians are still unsure what caused the explosion, but outraged Americans, fueled by sensationalist journalism, widely blamed Cuba. The United States declared war against Spain on April 25, 1898, with “Remember the Maine!” a popular pro-war rallying cry. The war was over in less than four months, with Spain surrendering on August 12, 1898. However, the Spanish-American War had enormous historical impact. During the conflict, the United States acquired overseas territories, confirmed its status as the dominant nation in the Western Hemisphere and began a new era as a major world power. Arlington National Cemetery contains more monuments and burial sites related to the Spanish-American War than any other location in the continental United States. The USS Maine Memorial features the actual mast from the ship, with the names of those who died in the explosion inscribed onto its base. The ship’s bell is welded into the door of the base. The remains of 229 sailors are buried near the memorial.
Continue ReadingPictured above, a soldier in “The Old Guard”, honors a fallen veteran at Arlington National Cemetery. The 3d U.S. Infantry, traditionally known as “The Old Guard,” is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army, serving our nation since 1784. The Old Guard is the Army’s official ceremonial unit and escort to the president, and it also provides security for Washington, D.C., in time of national emergency or civil disturbance. The unit received its unique name from Gen. Winfield Scott during a victory parade at Mexico City in 1847 following its valorous performance in the Mexican War. Fifty campaign streamers attest to the 3d Infantry’s long history of service, which spans from the Battle of Fallen Timbers to World War II and Vietnam. Since World War II, The Old Guard has served as the official Army Honor Guard and escort to the President. In that capacity, 3d Infantry soldiers are responsible for conducting military ceremonies at the White House, the Pentagon, national memorials and elsewhere in the nation’s capital. In addition, soldiers of The Old Guard maintain a 24-hour vigil at the Tomb of the Unknowns, provide military funeral escorts at Arlington National Cemetery and participate in parades at Fort Myer and Fort Lesley J. McNair. The black-and-tan “buff strap” worn on the left shoulder by each member of the 3d Infantry is a replica of the knapsack strap used by 19th-century predecessors of the unit to display its distinctive colors and distinguish its members from other Army units. The present buff strap continues to signify an Old Guard soldier’s pride in personal appearance and precision performance that has marked the unit for 200 years. A further distinction of The Old Guard is the time-honored custom of passing in-review with fixed bayonets at all parades. This practice, officially sanctioned by the War Department in 1922, dates to the Mexican War in 1847 when the 3d Infantry led a successful bayonet charge against the enemy at Cerro Gordo. Today, this distinction is still reserved for The Old Guard alone.
Continue ReadingPictured above, a soldier in “The Old Guard”, honors a fallen veteran at Arlington National Cemetery. The 3d U.S. Infantry, traditionally known as “The Old Guard,” is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army, serving our nation since 1784. The Old Guard is the Army’s official ceremonial unit and escort to the president, and it also provides security for Washington, D.C., in time of national emergency or civil disturbance. The unit received its unique name from Gen. Winfield Scott during a victory parade at Mexico City in 1847 following its valorous performance in the Mexican War. Fifty campaign streamers attest to the 3d Infantry’s long history of service, which spans from the Battle of Fallen Timbers to World War II and Vietnam. Since World War II, The Old Guard has served as the official Army Honor Guard and escort to the President. In that capacity, 3d Infantry soldiers are responsible for conducting military ceremonies at the White House, the Pentagon, national memorials and elsewhere in the nation’s capital. In addition, soldiers of The Old Guard maintain a 24-hour vigil at the Tomb of the Unknowns, provide military funeral escorts at Arlington National Cemetery and participate in parades at Fort Myer and Fort Lesley J. McNair. The black-and-tan “buff strap” worn on the left shoulder by each member of the 3d Infantry is a replica of the knapsack strap used by 19th-century predecessors of the unit to display its distinctive colors and distinguish its members from other Army units. The present buff strap continues to signify an Old Guard soldier’s pride in personal appearance and precision performance that has marked the unit for 200 years. A further distinction of The Old Guard is the time-honored custom of passing in-review with fixed bayonets at all parades. This practice, officially sanctioned by the War Department in 1922, dates to the Mexican War in 1847 when the 3d Infantry led a successful bayonet charge against the enemy at Cerro Gordo. Today, this distinction is still reserved for The Old Guard alone.
