Where our forefathers have left their mark

Today was sobering day number two. We had the opportunity to go to Arlington Cemetery on our last day in D.C. They have an app that you can download where you can search for anyone in the cemetery, so I decided to just put in "Few" to see what came up. I was surprised to see that there were six grave sites. Unfortunately, they were spread out all throughout the grounds. That meant that my determination to visit each site required us to walk another four miles! At least we have been getting our exercise. Anyway, I am not sure how I would be related to these individuals, but I do know that every Few is related in one way or another.

Carl Few served in WWII and Korea

Carl's son Richard Few was buried beside him.

Arthur Few served in WWI and WWII

Arthurs wife Doris was buried beside him.

Eugene Few appears to have served in WWI as the 157th Depot Brigade  was only active from 1917-1919

Robert Few served in Korea and Vietnam

 After finding the Few grave sites we took in the grounds and the immensity of it all. There was an active funeral as we went along, and grounds keepers working on new areas in preparation. Crista asked me if I found it creepy to be wandering through a graveyard the day before halloween. While I don't believe in such things anyway, I have been in some creepy cemetery's in my life - this was not one of them. This one inspired a sense of awe at the amount of individuals that laid down their own lives for our freedom, past present and future. These markers don't even touch the tip of the iceberg. Many are missing, or are buried elsewhere.

A trip to Arlington Cemetery wouldn't be complete without a stop by the site of Unknown Solider to see the changing of the guard maneuvers. During the off-season this happens ever hour on the hour, and boy they are not late! As soon as the clock struck 11:00am local time things were on their way. I appreciated how everyone in attendance was completely silent. If only we could command that amount of respect elsewhere!

After we finished up at Arlington we made our way over to the National Archives building back downtown. This is where all of the important documents from this country are kept. From the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution all the way up to any current Bills that are signed into law. Unfortunately, I was not able to take pictures, even ones without flash, as the documents are very fragile and some have faded past being able to read them in their entirety. The Declaration of Independence is in the worst shape. The Constitution is in pretty good condition and I was able to see the real signature of William Few. As I said, I was not permitted to get a picture, but I will provide the digital version of it below. See if you can spot His signature in the Georgia bracket.

Time to pack up and move on to the next spot. We shall be visiting the house of another one of the Founding Fathers, who also just happened to be a personal friend of William Few!