Friday, July 2, 2010

resting at Arlington


When I started my blog almost two years ago, I posted photos of my mother and father as part of the permanent display in the right hand column. Later I noticed that this is not common practice. Though this blog is principally about art, it is also about my evolution. And that evolution started with those who brought me here. So -- their photos remain.

This past Monday, for the first time, I visited Arlington National Cemetery. There, in 1996, a memorial was placed for my father, who had died some 21 years earlier. His professional life was dedicated to service of country, linked to his love of the sea. From him I inherited a smile, my wit, and a unibrow, the latter having thankfully been carved into two normal and separate eyebrows after an aggressive plucking session with my mother some time between the seventh and eight grades.

Daddy was cremated, his ashes scattered at sea on a Navy ship off San Diego. I was, therefore, surprised when I found out there was a memorial for him at Arlington. The Arlington staff referred to it as a marker, so as my husband and I came upon the designated Section H, and started looking for number 531, I expected to find some small brass plaque in the grass.

You can imagine the astonishment as Capt. Price's daughter gazed upon this exquisitely carved headstone, so perfectly lined up with his fellow soldiers' memorial headstones, just so, shaded by a graceful tree on a lovely gentle slope. What a loving gift this Arlington National Cemetery gave to my father.

It was a moment beyond poignant.  We are always our parents' children, and this grown-up child now has just received a stunning gift. And I am ever grateful for my father's gift of my smile, my wit, and thankfully, my two, not one, Price eyebrows.

6 comments:

Lady Beekeeper said...

Your post is lovely. I am happy for you that your father was treated well at Arlington. He sounds like a delightful man. My father was also cremated and his remains are in Texas at the veterans cemetary. I have never been there - after reading your post, I think I should go.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your beautiful experience. Your words touch my heart. My dad, an army veteran, turned 91 in June. He met my mom when he was stationed on the island of Maui after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. They have been married for 64 years and I too feel their influence in much of who I am and what I do.

Karen said...

I think this trip has turned out as well as you had hoped it would. I'm glad everything went well.

Penelope Ellen Price Felger said...

On June 2, 2010, I wrote, in response to your blog comments on our Daddy, Captain George Marvin Price, USN, and his service, "And well he served." I was reminded of it when I saw the videotape tonight of the honors presented to your husband, Noel, upon his retirement on June 22, 2010, as Ventura County Counsel, for obviously, well he served, too. And then I came here and read about Daddy and Arlington -- so thank you, sister mine, for finding out so much about Daddy's Arlington memorial for both of us and our families. It means so much to know that it is there -- a permanent record of his faithful service to our country. Even though we lost our parents so many years ago, both Daddy and Mom are still with us. Thanks for helping to keep them alive. With love from your sister, Penny (a/k/a Penelope).

Anonymous said...

So beautiful! What a "Price-less" gift. Trudy

Lora Martin said...

What a lovely surprise, to find more than you expected. Thanks for sharing your day and, personally, I've always loved the photos of your Dad and Mom on your blog. Glad you've decided to leave them there.

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