This is the next room moving past the cemetery entrance (shown in the previous photo) It's hard to describe, but this room hits you quite unexpectedly. It is such a dynamic contrast to what came before. The roof is quite unusual, angular and heavy looking. Very dominating. It's gives a very strong sense of being enclosed or being held down, almost as if you are the soldier under the cloth. There are only small slats of light in the canopy to illuminate what is otherwise a very dimly lit area.
On either side, there is a door frame in the wall (two of them) These look quite startling in the contrast of the light spilling through them (light from heaven perhaps), and lead out to the cemetery grounds. One side leads to the graves marking the airship crews, and the other (the one in the photo) leads to the main cemetery. Every visitor has to pass through this room. I thought it was quite unusual, effective and certainly gave you pause to think before going outside.
I enjoy walking through such cemeteries, though it does give you the feeling of comp;lete humility and captures your total sense of respect for the sacrifices made by these soldiers.
I like that nobody can escape this part - everybody has to take time to stop and think and be intimidated.... I have been to the National Arboretum and although parts of it are very moving overall I was disappointed that it seemed to be a bit of a hotchpotch rather than a cohesive whole - maybe it just needs to mature.
Being that tomorrow (or today for you now) represents Memorial Day, I cannot think of a more fitting photo to place. I believe we all need to take a moment and remember the sacrifices that these brave men and women have given, all in the name of freedom. You've captured it beautifully.
