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Continue ReadingThe Arlington House, perched atop a grassy hill within Arlington National Cemetery has been the site of some fascinating finds by archaeologists within the past year. Before the pandemic forced its closing, archaeologists were uncovering some remarkable China and artifacts that were believed to belong to George and Martha Washington. The park service notes, “In a truly remarkable discovery, National Park Service (NPS) archeologists at Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, have found pieces of porcelain likely from President George Washington and his wife, Martha, during archeological investigations of the site. The archeological investigations were part of the initial rehabilitation work on the grounds at Arlington House. Some of the ceramic fragments recovered were pieces of the ‘States’ porcelain, originally owned by the Washingtons and used at Mount Vernon. In 1796, a Dutch merchant presented Martha Washington with a set of these porcelain plates that contained her monogram (“MW”) and was surrounded by the names of all 15 United States at that time. Intact matching pieces of this service set reside in the collections of some museums, such as Mount Vernon. But how did they end up on the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery? Following the deaths of George and Martha Washington, Martha Washington’s grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, inherited and purchased hundreds of items from Mount Vernon to bring with him to his new home, Arlington House. Fascinating facts and fragments found within the grounds of the Arlington House atop the cemetery.
Continue ReadingThe Arlington House, perched atop a grassy hill within Arlington National Cemetery has been the site of some fascinating finds by archaeologists within the past year. Before the pandemic forced its closing, archaeologists were uncovering some remarkable China and artifacts that were believed to belong to George and Martha Washington. The park service notes, “In a truly remarkable discovery, National Park Service (NPS) archeologists at Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, have found pieces of porcelain likely from President George Washington and his wife, Martha, during archeological investigations of the site. The archeological investigations were part of the initial rehabilitation work on the grounds at Arlington House. Some of the ceramic fragments recovered were pieces of the ‘States’ porcelain, originally owned by the Washingtons and used at Mount Vernon. In 1796, a Dutch merchant presented Martha Washington with a set of these porcelain plates that contained her monogram (“MW”) and was surrounded by the names of all 15 United States at that time. Intact matching pieces of this service set reside in the collections of some museums, such as Mount Vernon. But how did they end up on the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery? Following the deaths of George and Martha Washington, Martha Washington’s grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, inherited and purchased hundreds of items from Mount Vernon to bring with him to his new home, Arlington House. Fascinating facts and fragments found within the grounds of the Arlington House atop the cemetery.
Continue ReadingToday is Military Spouse Appreciation Day. While soldiers carry and safeguard the flag at home and overseas, it is their spouses that hold down the fort and keep their families safe while waiting patiently for their return. Today we honor the contributions and sacrifices made by military spouses. Their commitment and support help to keep our country safe. Military spouses are silent heroes, essential to the strength of the nation. From the White House: As the members of our Armed Forces safeguard our Nation at home and around the world, they depend on the people they love for strength, comfort, joy, and stability. Military spouses may not always wear a uniform, but they serve and sacrifice alongside their service members and keep our military strong. On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we recognize and thank the military spouses who serve our Nation and are critical to our national security. Military families are proud of the lives they build. Spouses understand that loving a service member means facing the challenges that can accompany their service: from leaving friends behind to changing jobs again; making parenting decisions alone to losing sleep at night; deployments to homecomings to more deployments. Still, military spouses have done what they do best: adapt, persevere, and keep going. When someone you love is hurting, you hurt with them. When your spouse is at home, trying to make ends meet, or is torn between taking care of your children and keeping a job, your heart breaks too. Service members cannot focus on their mission if their families do not have what they need to thrive at home, and we cannot expect to retain even the most dedicated service members if they are forced to choose between their love of country and the hopes and dreams they have for their families. That is why supporting military spouses is critical to keeping our Nation safe. On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we recognize the importance of empowering spouses and ensuring they have the necessary tools and resources to thrive in all facets of their lives, including in the community, in the workforce, and at home. Photo: Sandy Scheffer-Hopkins/Arlington Media
Continue ReadingToday is Military Spouse Appreciation Day. While soldiers carry and safeguard the flag at home and overseas, it is their spouses that hold down the fort and keep their families safe while waiting patiently for their return. Today we honor the contributions and sacrifices made by military spouses. Their commitment and support help to keep our country safe. Military spouses are silent heroes, essential to the strength of the nation. From the White House: As the members of our Armed Forces safeguard our Nation at home and around the world, they depend on the people they love for strength, comfort, joy, and stability. Military spouses may not always wear a uniform, but they serve and sacrifice alongside their service members and keep our military strong. On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we recognize and thank the military spouses who serve our Nation and are critical to our national security. Military families are proud of the lives they build. Spouses understand that loving a service member means facing the challenges that can accompany their service: from leaving friends behind to changing jobs again; making parenting decisions alone to losing sleep at night; deployments to homecomings to more deployments. Still, military spouses have done what they do best: adapt, persevere, and keep going. When someone you love is hurting, you hurt with them. When your spouse is at home, trying to make ends meet, or is torn between taking care of your children and keeping a job, your heart breaks too. Service members cannot focus on their mission if their families do not have what they need to thrive at home, and we cannot expect to retain even the most dedicated service members if they are forced to choose between their love of country and the hopes and dreams they have for their families. That is why supporting military spouses is critical to keeping our Nation safe. On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we recognize the importance of empowering spouses and ensuring they have the necessary tools and resources to thrive in all facets of their lives, including in the community, in the workforce, and at home. Photo: Sandy Scheffer-Hopkins/Arlington Media