• Prince Harry pays respects at Arlington, visits injured soldiers at Walter Reed

    Charles Dharapak / Pool via Getty Images

    Prince Harry of Great Britain, wearing his British Army uniform in his role as Captain Harry Wales, visits Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, where veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are buried, on May 10, 2013 in Arlington Va. During his visit to the US, Prince Harry will be undertaking engagements on behalf of charities with which he is closely associated, on behalf also of HM Government, with a central theme of supporting injured service personnel from the UK and US forces.

    By Eun Kyung Kim, TODAY

    Prince Harry paid tribute to fallen American military personnel during a solemn trip Friday to Arlington National Cemetery.

    The prince, a helicopter pilot in Britain’s Royal Air Force, laid a wreath and a handwritten note on the grave of one soldier in Section 60, the burial ground for soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    "To my comrades-in-arms of the United States of America, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of freedom,” read the note, which was signed, “Captain Harry Wales." Continue reading

    J. Scott Applewhite / Pool via Getty Images

    Prince Harry shakes hands with a wounded soldier during his visit to the Military Advanced Training Center at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center treating wounded soldiers undergoing physical therapy on May 10, 2013 in Bethesda, Md.

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  • Swiss-born WWII spy is honored with Arlington burial

    Jacquelyn Martin / AP

    Savana Joyeuse, granddaughter of Dr. Rene Joyeuse, and other family members attend Joyeuse's burial service at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., March 29.

    Jacquelyn Martin / AP

    The family of Dr. Rene Joyeuse attend his burial service at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., March 29. In the wheelchair is Joyeuse' widow, Suzanne Joyeuse, with their son's Marc Joyeuse, and Remi Joyeuse, right.

    Jacquelyn Martin / AP

    The remains of Dr. Rene Joyeuse, of Saranac Lake, New York, a decorated Swiss-born WWII spy, during burial services at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., March 29.

    By Chris Carola / Associated Press 

    When Dr. Rene Joyeuse's request for burial at Arlington National Cemetery was rejected, the family of the decorated Swiss-born World War II spy launched a campaign to get the decision reversed. Months later, Joyeuse is getting his wish, thanks in part to the involvement of the nation's top covert operators, including CIA Director David Petraeus.

    Before resigning amid a sex scandal last November, Petraeus played a key role in convincing Pentagon officials that Joyeuse, a retired doctor from upstate New York, deserved to lie in rest among some of America's greatest military heroes, people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

    "It got attention at the highest levels, very high up. That's how important he (Joyeuse) was," said Charles Pinck, president of the OSS Society, whose membership includes a dwindling number of veterans of the Office of Strategic Services, the nation's World War II intelligence agency and forerunner of the CIA.  Continue reading.

     

  • Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

    Veteran marks 10th anniversary of the Iraq war by visiting the grave of a fellow marine

    Iraq war veteran Marine Corps Corporal (retired) Ryan Lamke visits the grave of friend and fellow Marine Corporal Benny G. Cockerham III on the 10th anniversary of the start of the Iraq war at Arlington National Cemetery, March 19, 2013, in Arlington, Virginia. Lamke lives in Washington, DC, and visits Cockerham's grave once a month. He made this visit specifically because of the anniversary.

  • Remains of US Civil War sailors found in shipwreck arrive in Washington for burial at Arlington

    Brendan Smialowski / AFP - Getty Images

    Ground crew and others watch as a US Navy transfer team carries the remains of a United States Civil War (1861-1865) casualty from Delta Flight 1172 to a hearse during a dignified transfer at Dulles International Airport in Sterling, Virginia on Thursday. The remains of two unknown crewmen found inside the sunken iron clad ship, the USS Monitor, were transfered for burial at Arlington National Cemetery after being discovered in 2002 and being sent to Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command in Hawaii for possible genetic identification.

    AP reports:

    The ceremony Friday at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington will include Monitor kin who believe the two sailors — whose remains were discovered in 2002 — are their ancestors, despite DNA testing that has failed to make a conclusive link. But the families stress that the interment pays homage to all 16 Union sailors who died when the ship went down, and nearly 100 people from Maine to California are expected to attend.

    "When I learned they were going to do a memorial and have the burial at Arlington, it was like, 'I can't miss that,'" said Andy Bryan of Holden, Maine, who will travel with his daughter Margaret to the capital. He said DNA testing found a 50 percent likelihood that Monitor crewman William Bryan, his great-great-great-uncle, was one of the two found in the summer of 2002, when the 150-ton turret was raised from the ocean floor off Cape Hatteras, N.C.

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  • Jose Luis Magana / AP

    Police officer Terry Fitzgerald of Portland, Maine, carries wreaths as he helps lay holiday wreaths at graves at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Dec. 15, during Wreaths Across America Day.

    Fallen soldiers honored with holiday wreaths

    Wreaths Across America was started in 1992 at Arlington National Cemetery by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester and has expanded to hundreds of veterans' cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.

  • Take me out to the ball game

    Fans flocked to stadiums around the country as many Major League Baseball teams celebrated opening day on April 6. Get a bird’s eye view from photographs of the festivities in four cities.

    Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

    The American flag is displayed in the outfield during the national anthem on the opening day game between the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas on April 6.

    J. Meric / Getty Images

    The Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees line up for the National Anthem just before the start of the opening day game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on April 6.

    Rob Carr / Getty Images

    The Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles stand on the field during the national anthem before the start of their opening day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Md. on April 6.

    Mike Mcginnis / Getty Images

    The St Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers stand for the playing of the National Anthem during Opening Day at Miller Park on April 6 in Milwaukee, Wis.

    What's your favorite part of opening day? 

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  • Brigadier General buried at Arlington Cemetery

    Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP

    A rider less horse leads a caisson carrying the remains of Army Brig. Gen. Terence J. Hildner, during a burial services at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. on Feb. 29. Hildner died of apparent natural causes Feb. 3 in Kabul, Afghanistan.

    Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP

    Cindy Hilder, center with red scarf, widow of Army Brig. Gen. Terence J. Hildner, watches as Army Lt. Gen. Donald Campbell presents her family with American flags during a burial services at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.

    Mark Wilson / Getty Images

    Two U.S. Army soldiers salute during a full honors burial service for U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Terence Hildner at Arlington National Cemetery on Feb. 29 in Arlington, Virginia.

    Brig. Gen. Terence J. Hildner received a full honors burial service at Arlington National Cemetery today in Arlington, Virginia.

    Hildner, 49, died of apparently natural causes in Afghanistan, and is the highest-ranking soldier to die during the war. 

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  • Volunteers lay thousands of wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery

    Win McNamee / Getty Images

    United States Marine Corps Sgt. Jeremy Grotler kneels at the grave of his friend, Lance Cpl. Tyler O. Griffin, after laying a wreath on his headstone at Arlington National Cemetery Dec. 10, in Arlington, Va. Griffin, 19, died April 1, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan. Thousands of military and civilian volunteers laid 100,000 donated holiday wreaths on headstones at the cemetery. Donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine, the wreaths are now part of a 20-year tradition of decorating and honoring the graves of soldiers, sailors, Marines and guard members who served their country.

    AP reports:

    ARLINGTON, Va. -- Volunteers have laid tens of thousands of holiday wreaths at tombstones at Arlington National Cemetery.

    Win McNamee / Getty Images

    Josh Willette, age 2, salutes after laying a wreath on a headstone.

    Maine Gov. Paul LePage joined thousands of volunteers Saturday in placing the wreaths. A convoy of more than 20 trucks left Maine last Sunday, bound for the cemetery across from the nation's capital.

    The tradition began 20 years ago with little fanfare. Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Co. in Harrington, Maine, and others laid 5,000 wreaths on headstones that first year to give thanks to the nation's veterans.

    Since then, it has grown into an organization called Wreaths Across America with ceremonies across the country.

    Organizers said 15,000 people joined the effort at Arlington. The wreaths will be on view until Jan. 28.

    Related story: 100K wreaths headed to Arlington National Cemetery

    Jose Luis Magana / AP

    Volunteer Pati Redmond of Frederick, Md., helps to lay holiday wreaths over the graves of fallen soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Dec. 10, during Wreaths Across America Day.

     

  • Son of fallen fan throws first pitch of playoffs

    By Rich Shulman

    You have to admire the classy way Josh Hamilton and the Rangers are honoring the family after this tragedy.

    AP reports:

    With fans on their feet, many with tears in their eyes, 6-year-old Cooper Stone stood on the pitcher's mound and tossed the ceremonial first pitch of the playoffs to his favorite player, Josh Hamilton.

    Cooper is the boy who saw his firefighter father fall to his death while trying to catch a ball thrown to him by Hamilton during a Texas game on July 7. This was his first trip back to Rangers Ballpark, and it came on center stage, with his widowed mother, Jenny, and Rangers president Nolan Ryan by his side.

    LM Otero / AP

    Cooper Stone, 6, tosses the ceremonial first pitch to Texas Rangers left fielder Josh Hamilton before Game 1 of baseball's American League division series playoffs on Friday, Sept. 30, in Arlington, Texas. It was Hamilton who threw the ball Shannon Stone was reaching for when he fell to his death behind the outfield wall in July.

     

    Tony Gutierrez / AP

    After throwing out a ceremonial first pitch, Cooper Stone, 6, talks with Texas Rangers left fielder Josh Hamilton before Game 1 of baseball's American League division series playoffs against the Tampa Bay Rays Friday, Sept. 30, in Arlington, Texas.

     

     

  • Family and friends gather for Marine's funeral in Arlington

    Jacquelyn Martin / AP

    Amy Balduf, of Richmond, Tenn., is comforted by a Marine at the graveside of her husband at Arlington National Cemetery on June 15. He husband, U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Kevin Balduf, was killed by a rogue Afghan policeman while serving in Afghanistan. The incident is currently being investigated.

    Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

    Sisters Eden Balduf (left), 3, and Stephanie Balduf, 5, wear Marine Corps-inspired uniforms while walking with their family during the burial ceremony for their father, Sergeant Kevin Balduf on June 15.

    Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

    U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. William Dixon touches Sergeant Kevin Balduf's casket one last time during his burial ceremony.

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  • Soldiers place flags in Arlington National Cemetery

    Michael Reynolds / EPA

    Soldiers of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) place grave decorating flags in Section 60, during the 'Flags In' ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, USA, 26 May. The ceremony known as 'Flags In' is performed to commemorate and honor US military personnel ahead of the upcoming 30 May 2011 Memorial Day and has been conducted annually since 1948. During 'Flags In', the 3rd US Infantry Regiment will place an American flag at each of the more than 220,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery. Section 60 is the final resting place for the majority of casualties at Arlington National Cemetery that died from Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

    By Jim Seida

    For many, Memorial Day is about family vacations or sales at the mall; for others it's about honoring service members or visiting the graves of deceased relatives.  Visiting the Arlington Cemetery site, I was surprised to learn that they average 28 funerals a day.  You can see today's funeral schedule here.

     

    Win McNamee / Getty Images

    Members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment place American flags at the graves of U.S. soldiers buried at Arlington National Cemetery in preparation for Memorial Day May 26.

    Win McNamee / Getty Images

    U.S. Army Private Philip Wong places a flag at the headstone of Sgt. Paul Dumont at Arlington National Cemetery in preparation for Memorial Day May 26.

     

  • Osama bin Laden's death resonates at Arlington Cemetery

    Photographer Evan Vucci of the Associated Press was going to a funeral in Arlington National Cemetery when he saw another scene to photograph. Here he describes what he found:

    Fighting back tears, former Marine Adam Furr looked at me and said, “It doesn’t seem like it’s in vain anymore.”  I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve photographed burials at Arlington since the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  But I’ll always remember today.  Twenty minutes before I was to photograph the burial of Marine Sgt. Sean Callahan, I saw Furr kneeling by the grave of Lt. Col. Kevin Michael Shea and relaying, to his fallen friend, the news that Osama bin Laden had been killed. When Furr heard the news he knew that a visit to Arlington was in order, to let an old friend know.

    Evan Vucci / AP

    Former Marine Adam Furr, of Centreville, Va., visits the grave of his friend Marine Lt. Col. Kevin Michael Shea at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Monday, May 2, 2011.

    Evan Vucci / AP

    Friends of Marine Sgt. Sean Callahan, of Warrenton, Va., who was killed in Afghanistan, hug near his casket after a burial service at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Monday, May 2, 2011.

    Evan Vucci / AP

    Marine Cpl. Daniel Callahan receives a flag during a burial service for his brother Marine Sgt. Sean Callahan of Warrenton, Va.,, who was killed in Afghanistan, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Monday, May 2, 2011.

     

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