MEMORIAL DAY IN MANASSAS. This year, instead of our usual visit to Arlington Cemetery and Rolling Thunder, we went to the National Cemetery in Quantico instead. Here are a couple of pictures:

I was surprised. The Quantico cemetery is large, but mostly drive-through and there is very little off-road parking. It was jammed with people, though it may not seem so from the pictures.

While we were there, we saw a motorcycle riding couple (obviously Vietnam era from Rolling Thunder yesterday) leaving coins on the headstones of some of the graves, so I inquired about the tradition. It's simply a sign of respect from a soldier to a comrade who has died. The denomination of the coin symbolizes the relationship.

The couple also told us about Honor Flight and Wreaths across America. I've had the distinct honor of meeting a few of the WWII veterans at the World War II and Korean War memorials in the past. Next year we hope to be more involved than we have been in the past.

Finally, on the way home, we crossed paths with this lady:

She was simply standing (by herself) quietly holding the flag for passers-by to see. Nothing more. It was a very somber -- and moving -- sight.