Lest We Forget, Lest We Forget
A Photographic Essay Remembering Sept 11
by Scot Facer Proctor

Part 2, Looking Back at The Civil War

Wm. Christman was the first person to be buried at Arlington back in 1864. I was struck by the number of graves around him that read "UNKNOWN."

I also was moved by his name, impressed that this man, with this name was the first buried here. We must never forget that our nation is kept safe under irrevocable promises from the Lord: "Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ" (Ether 2:12).

This is the oldest part of the cemetery. I asked how long it was calculated that Arlington would remain an active cemetery. I was told that with current burial rates the cemetery will be full by 2026. With planned land parcel acquisitions it could go on until 2060. "But everyone says it will be active for another 100 years," my guide said quickly.

It seems that this stone is being swallowed up by this tree but I chose to think of it as "surrounded and secure in the firm embrace of nature."

Living on the East Coast in the D.C. metro is immersion in Civil War history. Street names reflect Civil War officers. Town names are familiar to us all: Fredricksburg, Charlottesville, Gettysburg. A war is not long forgotten.

As we drove past this section of the cemetery I signaled to my escort to stop. I was so moved by these stones. Every one of them simply identified as "Citizen." What a blessing to be a citizen of this nation!

Please click here to go on to part 3 of ‘Lest We Forget, Lest We Forget.’.

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Author Scot Facer Proctor with daughter Mariah, Mariah's best friend Jenna Morgan, and son Truman sitting on a wagon near the barn on the Smith farm (July 2001).