“Remembering the Men and Women of our Armed Services” Tour
3-4 Hours
This tour pays tribute to the many men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country, from the Revolutionary War to those who are currently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. The tour will include a 2-hour walking tour of Arlington National Cemetery and stops at all of the major war memorials.
While nearly all tours of DC include elements that commemorate the sacrifices of our armed services, the focus of this tour is to honor our war veterans.
The tour is perfect for veterans groups who oftentimes gather in Washington for reunions. Likewise, this tour is popular among tour groups whose members include retired military veterans.
The tour will begin with a trip to Arlington National Cemetery. Guests will be led by a licensed professional guide, who will take them to well-known points of interest in the cemetery, as well as to places and people not so famous. The climax of the visit will be at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where the participants will see the “Changing of the Guard” ceremony. The tour will also include stops at Arlington House (also known as the Custis-Lee Mansion), the Kennedy graves, and the Women in Military Service For America Memorial.
Along the way, the guide will discuss the history of Arlington, including how it was turned from a plantation into a national cemetery and how it rose to prominence over the years. In addition, the guide will point out important graves belonging to such figures as the architect of Washington DC, Pierre L’Enfant, the heavyweight boxing champ Joe Louis, and the first African American four-star general, Daniel “Chappie” James Jr.
After visiting the Arlington National cemetery you will spend about 1 or 2 hours visiting memorials that commemorate particular wars or recognized specific branches of the US military. Possible stops may include:
- Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima)
- Air Force Memorial
- Navy Memorial
- WWII Memorial
- Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial
- Korean War Veterans Memorial
- American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial
For those who plan well in advance, we can arrange a special admission to the Washington Navy Yard to visit the Navy Yard Museum.
Please contact us for more information about this tour and how it can be customized (or personalized) to suit your needs.
