“Freedom isn’t free”. \u00a0Not sure who coined that saying but it has resonated with me for some time. \u00a0Those of us fortunate enough to live in the world’s democracies know that our freedoms come with a high price, and a debt of gratitude to the men and women in our military who make them possible.<\/p>\n

The world has thousands of war monuments and in no place are these monuments more varied than in Washington D.C. \u00a0My favorite war memorial in D.C. is the Vietnam Memorial<\/a>, beautiful in its simplicity, with over 50,000 names inscribed on its smooth polished granite surfaces. \u00a0Each name has a life’s story and someone’s grief associated with it, and every time you visit this monument you’re likely to see someone who is remembering a loved one or who has left a gift or tribute to someone who fell. \u00a0The first photo, of the “Three Soldiers”, is situated by the Vietnam Memorial.<\/p>\n

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier<\/a> is a highlight of any visit to Arlington Cemetery in Virginia, just across the banks of the\u00a0Potomac\u00a0River from Washington D.C. (on General Robert E Lee’s former estate). \u00a0The tomb is guarded 24\/7\/365 by an elite group of young soldiers who represent “the best” the military has to offer. \u00a0The perfection of their attire, the exaggerated ritual of the changing of the guard, the clock-like precision of their\u00a0behavior\u00a0while on duty are mesmerizing to watch. \u00a0The second photo highlights the eternal vigil at the Tomb of the Unknowns.<\/p>\n

In this United States this weekend is a time of Remembrance. \u00a0So do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \t