Creative Writing: Arlington Cemetery

Arlington Cemetery is lovely in the springtime cherry blossoms flurry amongst the white tombstones causing a brilliant contrast in colors and emotions. On one hand life in the form of the red blossoms and on the other the white marble of the headstones symbolizing eternal rest. The colonnade of honor guards all in dress blues escorts the horse-drawn caisson carrying Hunters empty flag-draped coffin. Behind it walking slowly in full dress whites is Sam holding her Father's arm. Armstrong is visibly distraught his friend and comrade for so many years now gone. Alongside him is the current sitting President Edward Thornton with the first lady dressed in black. An endless parade of mourners from the many areas of the military from countries that

Sam gazes down into the black earth this is all we come to just a three foot by six foot deep well on the earth. Nothing more just a simple spot with a headstone that’s all to mark our time here on earth. After all the words and praises and speeches are over and everyone is gone just this. How sad we all just end up alone for eternity. She knew his body wasn’t in the coffin having never been found but that somehow made it even more unbearable. Not to a have a place to know that what special shell housed that great soul is nowhere to be found. An even more profound sense of loss wells over her.

In perfect military fashion, the guards fold up the American flag into the uniform traditional triangle. Since Hunter had no other relatives the flag is presented to Sam. The lead guard hands it to her in parade rest and recites the words that all mothers, wives fathers and sisters anyone who has lost someone dreads.

“On behalf of a grateful nation, we honor his life and service and deeply regret your

Twenty-one guns crack through the air to honor Hunter. With each blast, Sam jumps she never liked this part of any military funeral it symbolized more violence than honor. The casket is lowered into the grave slowly. Sam just stands there in utter silence and grief. At a moment like this, she would turn to Hunter for comfort but that’s not going to happen. Her father holds his emotions deep she would never dream of opening up to him he could never understand. Ever since her mother’s death, he had an armor about him that nothing could penetrate. Armstrong steps away from her and walks over to Admiral Trent. They seem to be exchanging condolences for a moment, then they walk away with the conversation looking like it’s going deeper. Sam is done with him anyway the past few days have been traumatic. The search yielded nobody in the river and the coast guard had expanded its search out into the bay. It lasted nearly a week before it was finally called off. Barring some miracle the tide may bring in his remains, there was nothing more they could do. Hunter was probably tangled up in some roots at the bottom of the Potomac or his body had drifted out into the bay. There most likely sharks and other creatures of the deep will pick him apart and his bones will settle into the soft sand eventually to be disintegrated by the corrosive salt