Memorial Day At Quantico National Cemetery in Triangle VA

Under the Avenue of Flags program a deceased veteran's flag may be donated to a national cemetery to be flown along the "Avenue of Honor". A cemetery's full complement of flags is flown on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. One of the finest displays I've seen may be found at Quantico National Cemetery at Triangle, Virginia.

In 1977 the USMC donated 725 acres to the Veterans Administration for the creation of a national cemetery. It is not a "Marine Corps Cemetery" as some erroneously believe. However, due to its' proximity to MCB Quantico it is the cemetery of choice for many Marines and there are Marine memorials.

It is unique in that the grave memorials in the original sections are level facing skyward and are crosses in the newer sections. There are already more than 24,000 veterans interred at Quantico and new sections are always under construction. Set among rolling topography with many treed areas away from the noise and rush of everyday life it is an extremely peaceful setting.

My personally favorite memorial, Sixth Marine Division, along the Memorial Pathway offers a "high on a hill" view of the cemetery. Yes, there are members of the "Striking Sixth" at Quantico, but I have no plans to join them in the near future even though I am a World War II veteran who served with the Sixth Marine Division.

In rhe video below you can see Boy Scouts assisting in the installation of the many flags and bikers of Rolling Thunder assembling. I also snapped a picture of Marine honor guards waiting for a ceremony to begin. I hope you enjoy the photos as you remember family and friends who served and do serve to keep our freedoms alive.