U.S : Prince Harry has paid his respects to the country's fallen soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery
Prince Harry has paid his respects to the country's fallen soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery - a somber visit that comes in stark contrast to the hysteria on his arrival in the U.S. on Thursday.
The prince, himself a soldier, visited the site in Virginia, an extraordinary peaceful and beautiful spot overlooking Washington, sheltered by oaks and dogwoods, on Friday morning.
Wearing the No. 1 Ceremonial Dress of the Blues and Royals, to which he is still formally attached, as well as his light blue Army Air Corps beret, Harry, 28, who recently served himself in Afghanistan as an Apache attack helicopter pilot, appeared genuinely moved by the experience.
His first stop was at Section 60, the resting place of those who have lost their lives in recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he placed a wreath on a grave.
The headstone of US Army Specialist Michael L Stansbery Jr, who died in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan on July 30, 2010, aged 21, was chosen at random from the thousands of graves.
It bore a handwritten note reading: 'In grateful memory of all those who have given their lives in the cause of freedom. Captain Harry Wales'
After placing the wreath the Prince stood to attention and saluted the grave, before walking alone through the rows of headstones surrounding it, pausing several times to read individual inscriptions.
As a serving officer who has recently returned from Afghanistan himself, Harry - who is known as Captain Wales in the Army Air Corps - was keen to personally pay his respects.
After the hysteria that greeted the prince’s arrival in Washington on Thursday, it also provided a moment of solemnity and, for Harry, a chance to focus on why he is in the US: the extraordinary commitment and sacrifice of injured servicemen and women both side of the Atlantic.
Although Friday's scenes were much quieter, crowds of people - mainly women - still gathered outside the cemetery for a glimpse at the third in line to the throne.
After laying the wreath, Harry moved onto the graveside of iconic former US President John F Kennedy, who was assassinated on November 22, 1963 as he drove in a motorcade through Dallas.
As he visited JFK's grave the prince knelt on one knee and placed a mixed bouquet of flowers on the tombstone, which lies next to an eternal flame, then stood to attention, bowed his head and paused for a moment in quiet reflection.
Visiting dignitaries do not usually visit Kennedy's grave, but the Prince made the gesture because November marks the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's assassination.
Harry spent around five minutes in all at the grave, talking to Patrick Hallinan, superintendent of the cemetery.
From there the Prince made brief visits to the graves of Major General Orde Wingate, a British officer who died in an air crash in 1944 along with US servicemen, and of Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, a Medal of Honor recipient.
He completed the visit by laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The tomb contains the body of an unidentified First World War soldier, and has been guarded continuously since 1937.
Designed to honor those who have died for their nation, Arlington is the final resting place for more than 400,000 active duty servicemen and women, veterans and their families.
It also hosts more than 3,000 ceremonies each year and is a rite of passage for visiting dignitaries.
Speaking about the trip recently, his Principle Private Secretary, Jamie, Lowther-Pinketon said: 'Prince Harry wants to highlight once again the extraordinary commitment and sacrifice of our injured servicemen and women – our 'wounded warriors'.
'I’m sure it comes as no surprise to any of you that helping to rehabilitate wounded sailors, soldiers, airmen and Royal Marines who have given so much to us and to our Country lies at the very heart of what both Princes wish to do.
'Although a Prince, Harry is also an operational soldier – indeed a soldier's soldier... a recurring theme is to help recognize and bring the spotlight onto the work being done to help these outstanding young men and women.'
Kennedy is buried there not because of his standing as a politician – he became the youngest man ever to be elected US President - but because he has served as a junior naval officer in the South Pacific during World War 11, where he was credited with saving the lives of his crew following an attack Japanese cruiser.
The site had been chosen personally by Kennedy who had visited Arlington with his friend, architect John Carl Warnecke, in March 1963, just months before his death and admired the peaceful atmosphere of the location.
Although Kennedy's sisters and many of his long-time associates were opposed to his burial at Arlington, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy agreed to the change and was supported by his brother, Robert, who was himself subsequently assassinated and is buried nearby.
Mrs Kennedy also requested an eternal flame for her husband's grave, drawing inspiration from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, which she and her husband had seen during a visit to France in 1961, which still shines today.
His gravesite is now one of the most visited in the cemetery. By his side is his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who died of cancer in 1994, and two of their infant children who died hours after birth.
Following his visit to the cemetery, Harry will head to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to spend time with wounded veterans.
In the course of his visit that will take Harry of Wales from coast to coast, the high-born guest will meet with wounded veterans, take part in charity events benefiting inner-city youths and promote British business and tourism.
His tour includes a stop in a New Jersey town ravaged by Hurricane Sandy. The destruction in the New Jersey beachside community of Mantoloking will prove to be quite a contrast to the polo fields of Connecticut where he will play in a charity tournament later in the visit.
He will also attend a diplomatic reception in Denver, Colorado, as well as the 2013 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs - an event that benefits disabled veterans.
In New York City, Harry's visit will include an event promoting a community baseball program involving a new partnership with the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, which bills itself as the culmination of the charity lives of Harry and his brother and sister-in-law, Prince William and Kate.
This marks Harry's first visit to the US since August, when the 28-year-old royal landed in hot water after he reportedly took part in a strip poker game at a casino hotel in Las Vegas.
On a pre-deployment 'lads' holiday' to Las Vegas, the third in line to the throne, was photographed playing a game of ’strip billiards’ with a group of women in his £5,000-a-night hotel suite.
Harry has always refused to publicly apologize for his antics, which caused huge embarrassment to the Royal Family, but begrudgingly admits he ‘let his family down’.
The prince, himself a soldier, visited the site in Virginia, an extraordinary peaceful and beautiful spot overlooking Washington, sheltered by oaks and dogwoods, on Friday morning.
Wearing the No. 1 Ceremonial Dress of the Blues and Royals, to which he is still formally attached, as well as his light blue Army Air Corps beret, Harry, 28, who recently served himself in Afghanistan as an Apache attack helicopter pilot, appeared genuinely moved by the experience.
His first stop was at Section 60, the resting place of those who have lost their lives in recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he placed a wreath on a grave.
The headstone of US Army Specialist Michael L Stansbery Jr, who died in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan on July 30, 2010, aged 21, was chosen at random from the thousands of graves.
It bore a handwritten note reading: 'In grateful memory of all those who have given their lives in the cause of freedom. Captain Harry Wales'
After placing the wreath the Prince stood to attention and saluted the grave, before walking alone through the rows of headstones surrounding it, pausing several times to read individual inscriptions.
As a serving officer who has recently returned from Afghanistan himself, Harry - who is known as Captain Wales in the Army Air Corps - was keen to personally pay his respects.
After the hysteria that greeted the prince’s arrival in Washington on Thursday, it also provided a moment of solemnity and, for Harry, a chance to focus on why he is in the US: the extraordinary commitment and sacrifice of injured servicemen and women both side of the Atlantic.
Although Friday's scenes were much quieter, crowds of people - mainly women - still gathered outside the cemetery for a glimpse at the third in line to the throne.
After laying the wreath, Harry moved onto the graveside of iconic former US President John F Kennedy, who was assassinated on November 22, 1963 as he drove in a motorcade through Dallas.
As he visited JFK's grave the prince knelt on one knee and placed a mixed bouquet of flowers on the tombstone, which lies next to an eternal flame, then stood to attention, bowed his head and paused for a moment in quiet reflection.
Visiting dignitaries do not usually visit Kennedy's grave, but the Prince made the gesture because November marks the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's assassination.
Harry spent around five minutes in all at the grave, talking to Patrick Hallinan, superintendent of the cemetery.
From there the Prince made brief visits to the graves of Major General Orde Wingate, a British officer who died in an air crash in 1944 along with US servicemen, and of Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, a Medal of Honor recipient.
He completed the visit by laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The tomb contains the body of an unidentified First World War soldier, and has been guarded continuously since 1937.
Designed to honor those who have died for their nation, Arlington is the final resting place for more than 400,000 active duty servicemen and women, veterans and their families.
It also hosts more than 3,000 ceremonies each year and is a rite of passage for visiting dignitaries.
Speaking about the trip recently, his Principle Private Secretary, Jamie, Lowther-Pinketon said: 'Prince Harry wants to highlight once again the extraordinary commitment and sacrifice of our injured servicemen and women – our 'wounded warriors'.
'I’m sure it comes as no surprise to any of you that helping to rehabilitate wounded sailors, soldiers, airmen and Royal Marines who have given so much to us and to our Country lies at the very heart of what both Princes wish to do.
'Although a Prince, Harry is also an operational soldier – indeed a soldier's soldier... a recurring theme is to help recognize and bring the spotlight onto the work being done to help these outstanding young men and women.'
Kennedy is buried there not because of his standing as a politician – he became the youngest man ever to be elected US President - but because he has served as a junior naval officer in the South Pacific during World War 11, where he was credited with saving the lives of his crew following an attack Japanese cruiser.
The site had been chosen personally by Kennedy who had visited Arlington with his friend, architect John Carl Warnecke, in March 1963, just months before his death and admired the peaceful atmosphere of the location.
Although Kennedy's sisters and many of his long-time associates were opposed to his burial at Arlington, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy agreed to the change and was supported by his brother, Robert, who was himself subsequently assassinated and is buried nearby.
Mrs Kennedy also requested an eternal flame for her husband's grave, drawing inspiration from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, which she and her husband had seen during a visit to France in 1961, which still shines today.
His gravesite is now one of the most visited in the cemetery. By his side is his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who died of cancer in 1994, and two of their infant children who died hours after birth.
Following his visit to the cemetery, Harry will head to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to spend time with wounded veterans.
In the course of his visit that will take Harry of Wales from coast to coast, the high-born guest will meet with wounded veterans, take part in charity events benefiting inner-city youths and promote British business and tourism.
His tour includes a stop in a New Jersey town ravaged by Hurricane Sandy. The destruction in the New Jersey beachside community of Mantoloking will prove to be quite a contrast to the polo fields of Connecticut where he will play in a charity tournament later in the visit.
He will also attend a diplomatic reception in Denver, Colorado, as well as the 2013 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs - an event that benefits disabled veterans.
In New York City, Harry's visit will include an event promoting a community baseball program involving a new partnership with the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, which bills itself as the culmination of the charity lives of Harry and his brother and sister-in-law, Prince William and Kate.
This marks Harry's first visit to the US since August, when the 28-year-old royal landed in hot water after he reportedly took part in a strip poker game at a casino hotel in Las Vegas.
On a pre-deployment 'lads' holiday' to Las Vegas, the third in line to the throne, was photographed playing a game of ’strip billiards’ with a group of women in his £5,000-a-night hotel suite.
Harry has always refused to publicly apologize for his antics, which caused huge embarrassment to the Royal Family, but begrudgingly admits he ‘let his family down’.
Source : DailyMail
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