Off the Beaten Path - The (mostly) Untold Stories of Arlington National Cemetery

There are over 400,000 stories laid to rest within the walls of Arlington National Cemetery, and many are seldom told, these are the legacy stories that live on … off the beaten path.

Welcome to Off the Beaten Path, with your host, Eric Hommel, former officer in charge of US Air Force Ceremonies, where I was responsible for high-level funerals and repatriations here at Arlington National Cemetery.

Today, I explain my intentions in creating Off the Beaten Path, … by first defining The Beaten Path.

Every year more than 3 million people visit Arlington National Cemetery located just south of Washington DC and the Potomac River

Many come here to pay respects to loved ones and comrades. Others come here to visit notable graves of former presidents and America’s heroes, and to discover more of American history.

Many come to witness the lone sentry guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and to view the precise ritual of the Changing of The Guard.

Recognized as a national arboretum, visitors also come to Arlington National Cemetery to appreciate its natural beauty.

Arlington National Cemetery is comprised of 639 acres, the equivalent of about one square mile. Within this one square mile, most visitors traverse a well-traveled path that flows through popular areas, mostly visiting the notable graves of: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, President John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Major Audie Murphy, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Joe Louis.

The purpose of this video series (and blog) is to take you to the places where most visitors don’t go; to take you Off the Beaten Path, and introduce you to little known history and to preserve the legacy of those interred within this sacred ground.

Along the way I hope to share stories of those notable and those not so notable while honoring the service and sacrifice of all. I also plan on introducing you to the monuments and memorials that span across Arlington National Cemetery.

With over 400,000 stories laid to rest within these walls, there’s so much to explore and uncover here at America’s most hallowed ground, and I look forward to having you join me on this journey.

- Thank you.

Off the Beaten Path - The Untold Stories of Arlington National Cemetery