ARLINGTON, Va. — Ray Capouch, a Marine Corps veteran, has a Memorial Day tradition. He comes each year to meet Bob Dole, the former senator from Kansas, at the ampitheater behind the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
But this year–his sixth trip to Arlington National Cemetery–was different.
Capouch lost a friend and fellow veteran who used to join him on the trip. He says coming to Arlington gives him a way to still feel connected to his friend.
“It’s kind of getting close to them. Being able to see them again…talk to them. Because you miss them so much,” said Capouch.
Capouch and his veteran’s group handed out 10,000 six-inch flags to cemetary visitors. He says the idea was “to remind them to think about their country on this day. To remind them to think about those that have gone before us.”
By 8 a.m. the line to enter the cemetary for the day’s services wound past Arlington National Cemetary’s vistors center. Veterans, families and visitors waited patiently to pay their respects this Memorial Day. Organizers anticipated 75,000 visitors that day.
More than 300,000 people are buried at Arlington.