Are you going to be buried in Arlington? If so, what will being buried there, mean to you?

SPC Margaret Higgins — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 21:08:39 -0400

Response by A1C Charles D Wilson made Aug 24 at 2015 9:12 PM

A1C Charles D Wilson — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 21:12:48 -0400

Being Native American I told my wife I wanted to be cremated and my ashes spread in the Pacific ocean Pee Dee river and Lumber river. Just keep a picture of me around. I told them not to cry but celebrate the life I had and party like there is no tomorrow as I lived my life well and had fun.

Me just being me.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 9:27 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 21:27:42 -0400

My mother and father are buried there. Although, I'm eligible, my wife and I talked about it, since our children live here in Florida, we decided to be buried at South Florida National Cemetery. Hopefully the kids will stop by once in a while to say hello.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Aug 24 at 2015 9:47 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 21:47:03 -0400

I hope that I don't need it anytime soon but I have already sent in my application to be buried in the Tennessee state veterans cemetary in Nashville.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Aug 24 at 2015 10:05 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 22:05:53 -0400

I am going to be buried in Arlington. One of the reasons why I want to be buried there, is because the late President John Fitzgerald Kennedy is buried there. And the Eternal Flame is there.
I will be buried in a Columbarium. A Columbarium is a building. My ashes will be buried inside of a little cubby hole (if you will); on the side of the Columbarium. (Inside)
Taps will be played. There will be a twenty-one gun salute. And someone of my choosing, will receive a flag.
To me, this is a huge honor.

Response by LTC Gavin Heater made Aug 24 at 2015 10:14 PM

LTC Gavin Heater — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 22:14:08 -0400

I am undecided between observing burial ritual on consecrated ground, federal cemetery and cremation. Arlington is way above my style, however a Viking style funeral always looked majestic. I would defer Arlington to those fallen in battle or died of wounds from battle, even decades later. MA and NH have very nice and well maintained Federal Cemetaries at no or little cost to the surviving family. That is also an option. I know we should plan for the end of our time, but I prefer to focus on living for now and the future.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 24 at 2015 10:22 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 22:22:41 -0400

While I would love to be be buried in that hallowed ground but I think there are far too many more deserving. I would be satisfied to be rest in a veterans cemetery elsewhere.

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Aug 24 at 2015 10:27 PM

PO2 Peter Klein — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 22:27:04 -0400

I have done nothing to warrant burial in Arlington. Just put me out with the trash for all the difference it will make to me.

Response by MSG Gerry Poe made Aug 24 at 2015 10:36 PM

MSG Gerry Poe — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 22:36:42 -0400

I plan on being laid to rest by my Dad and Mom. If my wife dies before me I plan on laying her to rest there as well. We have our own family cemetery.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Aug 24 at 2015 10:36 PM

LTC John Shaw — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 22:36:53 -0400

SPC Margaret Higgins I have no idea.
I have never thought about being buried in Arlington or any other federal cemetery.
How do know what you are 'eligible' for?

Response by LTC Ed Ross made Aug 24 at 2015 10:41 PM

LTC Ed Ross — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 22:41:06 -0400

Yes I will. Two hundred years from now a tourist from Ohio or Wisconsin will be walking through Arlington Cemetery and he will come upon my grave. All he will know about me is what little is engraved on my tombstone. He'll think to himself, I don't know who this person was, but if he is buried in Arlington Cemetery I know that he served his country. That's all he needs to know.

Response by SSG Melvin Nulph made Aug 24 at 2015 11:52 PM

SSG Melvin Nulph — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 23:52:19 -0400

For myself I see no reason for it, I'm an organ donor and what's left of me will be donated to science so hopefully they can learn something to make life better for the ones left behind. They do so many neat things from the study of the effects of nature on a corps to training young Dr's and the list keeps growing.
I'm not even having a funeral, instead I have a seperet life insurance policy so my friends can do some of the things I've loved to do all my life with their family and friends. I've got 30 acers of land 7.5 acers I cut and take care of all the time the rest is for animals to enjoy. But I have a small pond stocked with catfish around 5-10lbs and bluegill, 4 areas for bonfire's camping and with $10K they are to get some live bands and enjoy a long weekend together with cooking out listening to some Rock music even get out my drumset, guitars, use the mini bikes, rifel range and enjoy, no sorrow, no worries or any of that for a moment all on me. I can only hope they keep it up on later dates also and live life the way it should be all the time. My house is a no BS area, no one is better than anyone else here and everyone gets along or ya have to go if you can't. Come back when you can. I love a simple life, when I get to go out in my yard I always find ways to make it better and people seem to enjoy it here with the simple rules I live by; enjoy, find something positive no matter what or how much pain I may be in, no one is better than me and I'll never be better than anyone.

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Aug 24 at 2015 11:57 PM

Cpl James Waycasie — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 23:57:15 -0400

No Ma'am, my family has owned and maintained it's own burial grounds since before the Civil war. If I am to be buried it will be there, but I am heavily leaning on donating my body to a Medical school in Atlanta so Medical students can gain knowledge from it's use.

Response by SGT Lou Meza made Aug 25 at 2015 12:13 AM

SGT Lou Meza — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 00:13:02 -0400

For me it would be a great honor to be buried at Arlington but my family is here in California and here is where I'll be buried ! I'll leave Arlington to those that were KIA ! They should be honored there for their sacrifice to this nation !

Response by SGT Robert Hawks made Aug 25 at 2015 1:41 AM

SGT Robert Hawks — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 01:41:20 -0400

Not Arlington but a military cemetery near my home and I consider it to be an honor.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 10:39 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 10:39:21 -0400

I am torn between cremation and burial at sea. The only thing that would change my mind from one of those two is the wishes of my family.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Aug 25 at 2015 1:42 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 13:42:50 -0400

SPC Margaret Higgins That is written in my Last Will and Testament, but if I don't qualify then I've requested to be buried at the closest National Cemetery near my home in Colorado. It would mean a lot to me to be buried with all the great brothers and sisters that came and left before me! That is my wish!