Arlington: 1924

Sad to know so many that rest beneath the stones
with only a blanket of grass to warm their weary bones.

It's her half-kneeling, half-seated position — is there a word for that? — that makes the picture. If she were simply standing at her boy's grave, with head bowed, the impact would not be as great as it is, in my opinion. Or even if she were in a classic kneeling position, as if in church, it still wouldn't be the same. I interpret her posture as one of a woman weary with grief, yet trying to maintain her dignity.

Memorial Day got its start in the late 1800's as Decoration Day, a day to decorate the graves of the Union dead. Most Southern states have a separate Confederate Memorial Day, too. The original day set aside was May 30th, but Congress moved to the last Monday of May in the early 1970's.

This is a picture that's going to stay with me for quite some time.