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122-469: Arlington National Cemetery was established in 1864. Due to the growing importance of the cemetery as well as the much larger crowds attending Memorial Day observances, Brigadier General Montgomery C. Meigs (who was Quartermaster General of the United States Army ) decided a formal meeting space at the cemetery was needed. A grove of close-growing trees just southwest of Arlington House Grove

244-642: A 1914 magazine article about the flag-making operation at the New York Navy Yard, where the flag is described as taking a full month to make (the longest of any of their flags). However, the Navy flag with the full-color eagle was also used during this period, as seen in photographs during the July 1911 groundbreaking for the Panama–California Exposition . In 1912, President Taft appointed

366-595: A Flag Board to discuss aspects of the upcoming 48-star flag. As part of their recommendations, they noted that there were two official flags used for the president, though incorrectly stating the designs were identical except for the background color (red for the Army flag and blue for the Navy), and recommended that a single presidential flag be adopted. Taft subsequently issued Executive Order 1556 on June 24, 1912, and an updated Executive Order 1637 on October 29, which defined

488-579: A Vietnam War unknown) ignored evidence that the remains could be identified. After extensive media attention, the Vietnam War unknown was exhumed from the Tomb of the Unknowns on May 14, 1998. DNA testing revealed on June 30, 1998, that the remains were those of United States Air Force 1st Lieutenant Michael Blassie . On September 16, 1999, the marble slab over the now-empty burial vault was replaced by

610-855: A ceremony on October 13, 1915. A copper box placed in a hollowed out section of the cornerstone contained a copy of the United States Constitution , a copy of the United States Declaration of Independence , the Bible , the flag of the United States , one each of every coin and postage stamp then in circulation, a Congressional directory, a telephone directory of the District of Columbia, an autographed photograph of President Wilson, and several items connected with Arlington National Cemetery. Kimball participated in

732-553: A flag labeled as being the U.S. president's flag. Neither book reveals any further information about this flag, and such a flag is not mentioned in the Army Institute of Heraldry's detailed page on presidential flags nor other books on the flag's history. The design is simply a version of the national coat of arms (i.e. the obverse of the Great Seal ), which was a common motif for flags representing heads of state and also

854-606: A gift, and one hangs today in Roosevelt's home at Sagamore Hill . In March 1901, the German naval attaché in Washington inquired as to the proper use of the flags when rendering honors abroad, as having two flags to represent a head of state was a unique situation. After discussions, and perhaps influenced by Secretary of State John Hay who noted that the Navy flag had come first and claimed that McKinley had never approved

976-468: A hole, which allowed water to begin dripping into the chapel. The plaza of Memorial Amphitheater was altered once more in 1999. The unidentified remains of a Vietnam War servicemember were interred in the Vietnam War vault at the Tomb of the Unknowns on May 28, 1984. But questions were raised in 1994 that indicated the Army (under pressure from the Reagan administration to placate veterans' groups by finding

1098-415: A limited amount of work on the approaches had concluded by the end of June 1918. Some modifications were also made to the structure because of the war. The largest of these changes eliminated the seating planned for the top of the colonnade. By June 1918, nearly all of Memorial Amphitheater's exterior was complete. The interior work on the chapel and the first-floor reception hall was also done, leaving only

1220-637: A new overlook. The Construction Division of the Quartermaster General's office oversaw the work, which was performed by the Hegman-Harris Company of New York City. Little additional work was done at Memorial Amphitheater until 1954. By then, settling of the amphitheater and entrance hall, cracking of walls and exterior marble, water damage, and other serious problems were beginning to affect the structure. Congress appropriated $ 15,000 for fiscal 1954 (which began June 30, 1953) for

1342-404: A new slab in a ceremony overseen by Secretary of Defense William Cohen . The new slab was inscribed with the words "Honoring and Keeping Faith with America's Missing Servicemen." Department of Defense officials decided to replace the old slab with a new one given how unlikely it was that unidentified Vietnam War remains would ever be found. Covering the vault to make it appear as if it did not exist

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1464-464: A number of mandates for retirement. All brigadier generals must retire after five years in grade or 30 years of service, whichever is later, unless selected or appointed for promotion, or reappointed to grade to serve longer. Otherwise, all general and flag officers must retire the month after their 64th birthday. However, the Secretary of Defense can defer a general or flag officer's retirement until

1586-410: A ribbon, worn across the breast, between coat and waistcoat, pink in color. Later, on June 18, 1780, it was prescribed that brigadier generals would instead wear a single silver star on each epaulette . At first, brigadier generals were infantry officers who commanded a brigade ; however, over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, the responsibilities of the rank expanded significantly. During

1708-406: A statue. No artwork was ever placed there. This pedestal was later removed, and the Tomb of the Unknowns took its place in 1921. The planned monumental steps leading down to the formal garden were not built when Memorial Amphitheater was dedicated. A retaining wall with false arches was constructed instead. A roadway was designed to cross the plaza and circle the entire structure. On March 4, 1921,

1830-402: A year-long study of the problems. A preliminary estimate indicated that repairs would cost $ 179,000. But the finished study identified even more serious issues, almost all of which were caused by design deficiencies which did not take into account the seasonal expansion and contraction of the building's marble. Arlington National Cemetery officials were forced to ask Congress for $ 447,000 to repair

1952-484: Is a one-star general officer in the United States Army , Marine Corps , Air Force , and Space Force . A brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below a major general . The pay grade of brigadier general is O-7. It is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral (lower half) in the other United States uniformed services which use naval ranks . It is abbreviated as BG in the Army, BGen in

2074-518: Is not clear as to who deserves the credit, as it notes that Owen "drew the first sketches for plans for the great Memorial in 1904" and later gave "suggestions and advice as to the form of the Memorial". Owen's significant role is made clear by the AMAC in other ways as well: He designed the memorial trowel used by President Woodrow Wilson to lay the cornerstone; he served on the reception committee for

2196-537: Is not on the recommended list if it serves in the interest of the nation, but this is uncommon. The Senate must then confirm the nominee before the officer can be promoted. Once the nominee is confirmed, they are promoted to that rank once they assume or hold an office that requires or allows an officer of that rank. For positions of office reserved by statute, the President nominates an officer for appointment to fill that position. For all five uniformed services, because

2318-587: Is then sent to the service secretary and the Joint Chiefs for review before it can be sent to the President , through the Secretary of Defense , for consideration. The President nominates officers to be promoted from this list with the advice of the Secretary of Defense, the service secretary, and if applicable, the service's chief of staff or commandant. The President may nominate any eligible officer who

2440-578: The USS Maine Mast Memorial in the west, the Spanish–American War Memorial to the south, and a formal Italianate garden to the east. Greek Revival , Romanesque Revival , and Renaissance decorative elements are used throughout the structure. Ulysses Ricci designed the various friezes, ornamental devices, and decorative elements of the amphitheater and entrance hall. Hastings said he wanted Memorial Amphitheater to be

2562-800: The 62nd Congress , a number of new federal memorials were approved, including the Arlington Memorial Bridge , the Lincoln Memorial , a memorial to women who served in the Civil War (now the American Red Cross National Headquarters ), and a George Washington memorial auditorium. The successful push for new memorials helped supporters win the passage of legislation authorizing construction of Memorial Amphitheater. President William Howard Taft , in one of his last acts as president, signed

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2684-496: The Continental Congress is inscribed inside the apse: "When we assumed the soldier we did not lay aside the citizen." A quote from President Abraham Lincoln 's Gettysburg Address is inscribed above the stage: "We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain ." Decorative 9-foot (2.7 m) tall urns carved with eagles, rams' heads, and snakes were placed on pedestals in niches on either side of

2806-640: The Knights Templar , a group of Freemasons . Music was provided by the United States Marine Band . President Herbert Hoover attended the service, along with several thousand people. Along with Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies, it is one of the annual and most well-attended events in the amphitheater. Brigadier general (United States) In the United States Armed Forces , a brigadier general

2928-572: The Aide to the Secretary of the Navy Byron McCandless . According to McCandless, when asked for suggestions on a design for a single presidential flag, he suggested adding four white stars in the corners of the Navy flag, which would differentiate the flag enough from the infantry colors to make it acceptable for use by the Army. Wilson liked the idea, but wanted the president's eagle (from the presidential seal, which faced to its left) on

3050-597: The Army color in 1908, and the blue version was also updated to have 48 stars. On September 29, 1915, President Wilson watched a march by the Grand Army of the Republic where the reviewing stand displayed both the presidential flag and the Army's presidential color. Afterwards, this led to discussions on the situation which (among others) included Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt and

3172-401: The Army version, President Roosevelt decided that there should only be one official flag for the president and chose the Navy's version. On November 12, 1901, Roosevelt's secretary sent out a letter with the decision, saying it was primarily because the Navy flag was older. While the Army later updated its regulations to use the Navy design for its flag, they retained their own definition of

3294-454: The Coat of Arms of the President in proper colors. The proportions of the elements of the Coat of Arms shall be in direct relation to the hoist, and the fly shall vary according to the customs of the military and naval services. Attached to the order were illustrations of the seal and flag, and also a set of "specifications" for the flag, which defines more precise colors for the elements than does

3416-534: The Congress approved the construction of a memorial to an unidentified American serviceman from World War I to be placed in the stairs leading up from the east landing to the plaza in front of Memorial Amphitheater. An unknown soldier was identified and brought back from France, and interred inside a small marble tomb on Armistice Day on November 11, 1921. To construct the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (as it

3538-540: The Great Seal on a blue background), so a different design was needed. Frederick D. Owen, a civilian engineer working in the War Department, came up with a flag which met the approval of Secretary of War Alger and President McKinley , and was officially announced by General Orders No. 13 on March 28, 1898. The order specified both a presidential flag, and a presidential color of the same design. The color

3660-679: The Marine Corps, and Brig Gen in the Air Force and Space Force. The Civil Air Patrol also uses this grade for its National Vice Commander and some past National commanders. The rank of brigadier general has existed in the U.S. military since the inception of the Continental Army in June 1775. To prevent mistakes in recognizing officers, a general order was issued on July 14, 1775, establishing that brigadier generals would wear

3782-452: The Navy and Army regulations changed their definitions of the flag (and in the Army's case, the color as well) to conform to the new design, meaning there finally was just one presidential flag, and it was used until 1945. The flag was changed by President Truman in 1945, a process which began with inquiries by President Franklin Roosevelt (who had been involved with the creation of the 1916 flag) shortly before his death. The new flag used

Arlington Memorial Amphitheater - Misplaced Pages Continue

3904-493: The Tomb of the Unknowns as well. Additional damage occurred over the next five years. Congress then appropriated $ 522,000 in fiscal year 1972 to repair these problems as well as provide yet another renovation of the exhibit hall. By this time, attendance at Arlington National Cemetery had soared with the construction of the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame in 1967 and the addition of the grave of Robert F. Kennedy in 1971. To accommodate

4026-551: The Tomb of the Unknowns could remain lit at night. In the midst of ceremonies also marking the 50th anniversary of the Paris Caucus – President Richard Nixon formally took possession of the lighting system in the nation’s name, flipping the switch that turned the lights on. Additional physical plant problems appeared at Memorial Amphitheater in 1965. The retaining walls adjacent to the east plaza began cracking vertically, and extensive horizontal cracks and spalling were found on

4148-469: The Tomb of the Unknowns due to a massive stroke on October 2, 1919, from which he never recovered. He died on February 3, 1924. President Warren G. Harding was the first sitting president to visit Memorial Amphitheater, which he did on Memorial Day on May 30, 1921. President Harding was the first President to visit the Tomb of the Unknowns, as he was present during its dedication in November 1921. Harding

4270-742: The Union in the Civil War ), believed that not only should a new and larger facility be built, but also that the new amphitheater represent the dead of all wars in which the nation had fought. Kimball and the GAR began their push for a new amphitheater in 1903, and sketches for the amphitheater drawn up by Frederick D. Owen, a civilian engineer working for the United States Army Corps of Engineers . But legislation failed to pass Congress in 1905, 1907, and 1908. Legislation passed in 1908 authorizing

4392-507: The United Spanish War Veterans, a Spanish–American War veterans group). It immediately became apparent, however, that although Congress had authorized the expenditure of $ 250,000 for Memorial Amphitheater, it had not actually appropriated any such funds from the U.S. Treasury. This left the AMAC without any funds to conduct its business. It was not until August 1, 1914, that Congress finally appropriated money for

4514-486: The Unknowns, and inter the remains there. The vault was constructed between the World War II and Korean War vaults on the plaza, and a marble slab with the word "VIETNAM" inscribed on it placed over the empty burial shaft. By 1977, many remains had been located, but all of them were subsequently identified. Vietnam veterans and their supporters, concerned that no unidentified remains would ever be located, pushed to have

4636-520: The amphitheater and $ 179,000 to repair the entrance building. Congress approved the request. A second major change was made to the plaza in 1958. President Dwight Eisenhower signed legislation in August 1956 to allow the interment of unidentified remains for soldiers from World War II and the Korean War at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Two new burial vaults, to the northwest and southwest, were dug in

4758-459: The amphitheater called for wooden balustrades, plaster moldings, cement floors and ceilings, and wooden doors. But on June 26, all of these materials were changed to marble. The total cost of the changes was $ 41,000. Work on the amphitheater slowed in mid-1916 and throughout 1917 due to a lack of high quality marble available for the work. Severe winter weather also meant that work on the approaches did not begin until late June 1917. The amphitheater

4880-592: The amphitheater since then include those of General of the Armies John J. "Black Jack" Pershing , General of the Air Force Henry H. "Hap" Arnold , Secretary of Defense James Forrestal , and Antarctic explorer and Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd . A funeral service for the unidentified remains of 30 victims of the September 11 attacks on The Pentagon was held at Memorial Amphitheater in 2002. It

5002-559: The amphitheater's construction. Ten days later, Colonel William W. Harts of the United States Army Corps of Engineers was elected the commission's executive director. On October 12, 1914, the AMAC contracted with the New York -based architectural firm of Carrère and Hastings to design the building. The AMAC hired the George A. Fuller Co. to construct it on February 11, 1915. There is some disagreement among sources as to who should receive

Arlington Memorial Amphitheater - Misplaced Pages Continue

5124-605: The angles of the large central star were 45 small white stars, representing the 45 states. This flag was placed in the cabinet room in the White House during the war, and was first shown in public during peace jubilee celebrations in Chicago and Philadelphia in October, 1898. In 1908, following the admission of Oklahoma as a state, a 46th star was added at the bottom. One of these flags was given to Theodore Roosevelt as

5246-511: The audience, much as a cathedra (or bishop's chair) does. Hastings intended the klismos chair to remind the audience of the missing heroes honored by the amphitheater. The second level of the stage has a podium. The stage and amphitheater are designed so that any speaker must look down at the klismos chair while addressing the audience, and must look at the USS Maine Mast Memorial if looking up. The third and uppermost level of

5368-555: The basement women's restroom and chapel. Additional repairs to the walkways around Memorial Amphitheater were made in 2012. In the wake of the Arlington National Cemetery mismanagement controversy of 2008-2011, Arlington National Cemetery officials discovered that more than $ 32.6 million in funds for cemetery improvements, maintenance, and operations had gone unspent. A portion of these funds were used to replace approximately 230,000 square feet (21,000 m) of

5490-480: The basement-level kitchen storage areas and the second-floor offices to be worked on. Construction of the concrete floor of the amphitheater also was under way. Interior work on Memorial Amphitheater ended in June 1919. The remainder of the basement rooms and all of the second floor were now finished, too. All that remained to be done was decoration of the chapel ceiling, some interior and exterior inscriptions, and installation of lighting fixtures. The Corps of Engineers

5612-764: The bidder who had protested the improper contract award. About $ 1.4 million of these savings were used to build new wheelchair access ramps and improve access to the amphitheater for handicapped or disabled individuals. The remaining $ 1.3 million were used to build a columbarium at the cemetery. The repairs included installation of new waterproof membranes; removing water and rust stains; patching and repainting cement, marble, and stone; replacement of all deteriorated marble sculptures, balusters , and benches; replacement of worn and rusted iron railings and drinking fountains; replacement of worn and broken flagstone walkways; and installation of new and upgraded signage and trash containers. These repairs and improvements were almost complete by

5734-461: The blazon of the coat of arms: Flag base—blue. Stars, large and small—white. Shield: Eagle: Arrows—white, shaded gray. Olive branch: Rays—yellow. Clouds—white, shaded gray. Scroll—white with gray shadows. Letters—black. All dimensions are exclusive of heading and hems. Device to appear on both sides of flag but will appear reversed on reverse side of flag, except that the motto shall read from left to right on both sides. During

5856-403: The bottom, narrowing to just 2 feet 4 inches (0.71 m) thick at the top. A hollow rectangular plinth was constructed on top of the vault walls, above which was a slightly smaller hollow marble base. On top of the marble base was a rectangular capstone with curved sides, which was also pierced through the center. A 2-inch (5.1 cm) deep layer of soil brought from France along with

5978-435: The bow of boats on which he embarks. The 1866 Naval Signal Code (possibly not in effect until 1867) changed back to use the union flag, and on December 31, 1869, the change was reverted yet again, with the national ensign being flown on a ship while the president was aboard. This practice continued until 1882. In the spring of 1882, Chester Arthur noted that the heads of state of many other countries had their own flag, but

6100-459: The building he was most remembered by. As constructed, Memorial Amphitheater consisted of an elliptical outdoor amphitheater that sat 4,000. The bays formed by the colonnade can seat another 150 individuals. Another 1,000 individuals may be accommodated by standing. The amphitheater is surrounded by a colonnade, with main entrances at the east and west axes. The capitals of the columns are Doric , but rest on an Attic base . The entablature above

6222-526: The casket of a former president in official funeral processions, and flown on the president's motorcade . The flag is not flown at half-staff since there is always an incumbent president in office . The current flag is defined in Executive Order 10860 : The Color and Flag of the President of the United States shall consist of a dark blue rectangular background of sizes and proportions to conform to military and naval custom, on which shall appear

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6344-476: The centennial of Washington's inauguration in 1889, and by a hotel proprietor during a presidential trip to New York City in 1897. At some point before the turn of the century (possibly in 1897; the 1899 Flags of Maritime Nations showed the new version ), the design on the flag was changed to match the Tiffany design of the Great Seal and be in full color. The text of the naval orders did not change, as this

6466-542: The chapel in Memorial Amphitheater dedicated to veterans who served in Southeast Asia from 1958 to 1975. Legislation to require the change was introduced in Congress, but most legislators felt that if the chapel were to be dedicated it should be to all veterans. The legislation did not pass, and the chapel remained nameless. On Veterans Day in 1978, President Jimmy Carter dedicated a plaque inside

6588-489: The coat of arms, flag, and seal to use the new design. The flag was first flown at the commissioning of the USS ; Franklin D. Roosevelt  (CV-42) two days later. The only changes have been to add more stars for new states; President Eisenhower issued Executive Order 10823 on May 26, 1959 (effective July 4) to add a star for Alaska , and later issued Executive Order 10860 on February 5, 1960 (again effective

6710-560: The columns, and 11,856 cubic feet (335.7 m) of concrete and 26 short tons (24 t) of structural steel were used to support them. Skylights and ornamental ironwork stairs were in place, and ornamental plastering and marble carving had begun. The amphitheater, chapel, and most of the entrance hall were finished in 1918. The entrance hall was built with red brick (257,100 of them), and clad in 57,711 cubic feet (1,634.2 m) of marble. Another in 1,060 cubic feet (30 m) of marble were used for interior columns. The extent to which marble

6832-582: The columns, however, is Ionic to allow for inscriptions. These inscriptions, on the exterior of the entablature, list 44 major battles from the American Revolutionary War through the Spanish–American War . Low, backless marble benches in concentric circles face the semi-circular main stage, which has three levels. The lowest level features a klismos , a form of ancient Greek informal chair meant for rulers. The klismos chair faces

6954-405: The commanding general of a division or division-sized units and assists in overseeing the planning and coordination of a mission. A Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), as the medium capability (and sized) scalable Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) with up to 20,000 Marines, is normally commanded by a Marine BGen. An Air Force brigadier general typically commands a large wing or serves as

7076-517: The committee discussions which eventually led to the Flag Act of 1818 , an additional flag was proposed which was to indicate the president's presence at places he visited. The design divided the flag into four quarters (like the British royal standard ): the upper left was the white stars on a blue background (same as the national flag); the lower left had a Goddess of Liberty on a white background;

7198-502: The constellation of stars was only surrounded by a circular set of rays. This flag was supposedly to be used in times of peace only, with the original two flags still being used by their respective services in times of war. Several photos show this design was in fact used, such as at a Columbus Day celebration in 1912, on the presidential yacht Mayflower during a naval review in New York Harbor on October 14, 1912, and in

7320-435: The construction project's total to $ 4 million. The extra funds paid for widening of the steps and portico in front of the east entrance — increasing the number of people who could view the changing of the guard at the tomb to 800 individuals from 200. In addition, the tomb honor guard received new guard posts on the plaza in front of the amphitheater. The mid-1970s widening of the Memorial Amphitheater portico, reconstruction of

7442-470: The cornerstone laying ceremony; he co-chaired the planning committee for the 1921 dedication; and he chaired the reception committee for the dedication. But the AMAC also said Carrère and Hastings prepared the plans for the building, provided the explanation of the design to the AMAC, and was named by Congress as the architects. The AMAC's composition changed somewhat after Congress amended the commission's authorizing legislation on March 3, 1915. Congress added

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7564-706: The creation of the rank two centuries ago. Since the Mexican–American War , however, the lower rank of colonel has been the normal rank appointed to command a brigade that is organic to a division ( e.g. , the 1st Brigade of the 94th Infantry Division , vice the 187th Infantry Brigade ). While separate brigades (e.g. the 187th, commanded by then-BG William Westmoreland in Korea) were traditionally commanded by brigadier generals, this practice has ceased in recent history. Today, an Army or Marine Corps "BG" or "BGen," respectively, typically serves as deputy commander to

7686-514: The deputy commander for a NAF . Additionally, one-star officers of all services may serve as high-level staff officers in large military organizations. U.S. law explicitly limits the total number of general officers who may be on active duty. The total number of active duty general officers is capped at 218 for the Army, 62 for the Marine Corps, 170 for the Air Force, and 21 for the Space Force. The President or Secretary of Defense may increase

7808-711: The end of March 1996. Clark Construction Group, which was the general contractor for these renovations, received an Excellence in Construction Award from the D.C./Virginia chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors for the outstanding quality of its work. Controversy about the renovation erupted in January 2011, however, when original decorative urns from the 1995–1996 renovation turned up at auction. The two 9-foot (2.7 m) tall urns, sculpted by Ulysses Ricci, formerly stood on either side of

7930-401: The establishment of a memorial commission, but it received only $ 5,000 in funding. Legislation was introduced again in 1912 by Senator George Sutherland . Sutherland's bill proposed construction of a 5,000-seat amphitheater with an underground crypt (for the burial of famous individuals) to cost no more than $ 750,000. Prospects for passage initially seemed dim. But during the third session of

8052-418: The exhibit hall which honored Vietnam War veterans. Two temporary plaques in the exhibit hall were dedicated by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger on Memorial Day in 1983. One plaque commemorated military personnel who died in the Vietnam War, and the second explained why no Vietnam War unknown had been interred at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Extensive additional renovations in the amphitheater were made in

8174-491: The exterior of the structure). The Guastavino tile system, patented in 1885, was used to create arches and vaults in the basement. More than 2,500 square feet (230 m) of this tile were used. The heating, clean water, and sewage systems were also complete. The Corps of Engineers also finished the architectural drawings for the approaches around the amphitheater as well, and was ready to start work on them. A major design changed also occurred in June 1915. Originally, plans for

8296-664: The flag instead of the Great Seal. To demonstrate this, Wilson showed McCandless the Martiny plaque of the presidential seal then in the floor of the Entrance Hall of the White House, and also a full-color print of the seal he had likely obtained from the Philadelphia firm of Bailey Banks & Biddle . This print was used as the basis for the official drawings of the new flag. On May 29, 1916, President Wilson issued Executive Order 2390 , which officially changed to

8418-424: The flagstone walkway around Memorial Amphitheater and to replace fire alarm systems in the east entrance hall. Memorial Amphitheater has been the site of numerous Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies. Every American President except Woodrow Wilson has visited the building since it was dedicated in 1921. Although the structure was dedicated during Wilson's presidency, he never visited Memorial Amphitheater or

8540-618: The fourth soldier honored with a funeral service at Arlington Memorial Amphitheater. He had died the previous year while serving as an attaché in Africa. While memorial services in Memorial Amphitheater are common, the amphitheater has also hosted the funerals of many famous Americans. The first funeral to be held in the amphitheater was that of sculptor Moses Jacob Ezekiel , creator of the Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, on March 30, 1921. Other funerals held in

8662-410: The grade of brigadier general is a permanent rank, the nominee may still be screened by an in-service promotion board. The rank does not expire when the officer vacates a one-star position. Tour length varies depending on the position, by statute, or when the officer receives a new assignment. The average tour length of a one-star billet is two to four years. Other than voluntary retirement, statute sets

8784-509: The ground-breaking and cornerstone ceremonies, but did not live to see the amphitheater completed: He died on May 15, 1916. Excavation of the foundation was complete by the end of June 1915. Concrete foundations had also been laid and cured, and most of the brick foundation was in place as well. Most of the amphitheater's foundation was complete by June 30, 1916. The foundation included 629,000 bricks, 24 short tons (22 t) of structural steel, and 21,644 cubic yards (16,548 m) of marble (for

8906-549: The inside, on the exterior, or on the grounds of the structure. On May 24, 1964, Memorial Amphitheater was the site of a late-afternoon ceremony celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of Arlington National Cemetery. During its 50th year anniversary in 1969, the American Legion , along with the American Legion Auxiliary donated an exterior lighting system so that Memorial Amphitheater and

9028-433: The leader of Camp 171, United Confederate Veterans of the District of Columbia, to the commission as a full voting member. The site chosen for the new Memorial Amphitheater was the top of a hill about 1,000 feet (300 m) south of Arlington House. A gravel pit, opened in the mid-1800s, existed there previously. Ground for Memorial Amphitheater was broken on March 1, 1915. President Woodrow Wilson laid its cornerstone in

9150-521: The legislation into law on March 4, 1913. The 1908 authorizing legislation established an Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission (AMAC) to oversee the design and construction of the structure. Its members included the Secretary of War , the Secretary of the Navy , the Superintendent of the U.S. Capitol , Judge Kimball (as a representative of the GAR), and Charles W. Newton (as a representative of

9272-450: The main of vessels of war while the President is on board, and shall be carried in the bow of his boat." An illustration of the flag was published in the 1882 Flags of Maritime Nations , a Navy publication. As this was before the 1885 redesign of the Great Seal , this flag showed an eagle with bent legs, somewhat like the Great Seal design at the time. The crest of the coat of arms was omitted however, and instead an arc of thirteen stars

9394-634: The majority of credit for designing Memorial Amphitheater. Lemos, Morrison, Warren, and Hewitt specifically name Thomas Hastings , as does the United States Commission of Fine Arts and others. But other sources name Frederick D. Owen, a civilian engineer working for the Corps of Engineers (and who also designed the flag of the president of the United States ). Owen is named by architectural historians Butler and Wilson and by historian Rick Atkinson. The Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission

9516-463: The mid-1990s. Congress appropriated $ 4.82 million in fiscal 1992 to repair rainwater damage and fix leaks, and an additional $ 4.5 million in fiscal 1993 to restore damaged marble. Although the project was planned for completion in July 1995, a six-month delay occurred because of protests regarding the way the contracts were awarded. Bids for the project came in much lower than anticipated, creating $ 2.7 million in savings. The Army used $ 34,405 to make whole

9638-411: The much larger crowds wishing to see the Tomb of the Unknowns, Congress appropriated an additional $ 478,000 in fiscal 1972 to widen pedestrian walkway approaches to accommodate the larger crowds. To make Memorial Amphitheater more accessible for the disabled, steep slopes around the structure were eliminated and steps were replaced with ramps. Congress appropriated an additional $ 3 million in 1974, to bring

9760-482: The new design. The eagle was almost entirely white with black stitching, except for the beak, legs and feet which were in yellow. The arrows were also white, though the olive branch was in color (green leaves and light green olives). There were thirteen clearly defined white cloud puffs in an arc, with the rays of the glory in gold. There were four large stars, one in each corner. The dimensions were 10.2 by 16 feet (3.1 m × 4.9 m). The next revisions of

9882-422: The number of slots for one branch, so long as they subtract an equal number from another. Some of these slots are reserved by statute. For promotion to the permanent grade of brigadier general, eligible officers are screened by a promotion board consisting of general officers from their branch of service. This promotion board then generates a list of officers it recommends for promotion to general rank. This list

10004-409: The officer's 66th birthday and the President can defer it until the officer's 68th birthday. Because there are a finite number of General officer positions, one officer must retire before another can be promoted. As a result, General and flag officers typically retire well in advance of the statutory age and service limits, so as not to impede the upward career mobility of their juniors. Flag of

10126-464: The outside of the entrance hall provide access to the stage in the amphitheater. The main floor of the reception hall is clad in Botticino marble . The main floor originally housed a reception hall (with two side galleries for the display of battle flags and war trophies) and stage, and the second floor housed a museum. In 1929, the main floor became a Memorial Exhibit Hall displaying honors received by

10248-405: The pedestrian approaches, and repairs to the plaza around the Tomb of the Unknowns represented the first major construction at the site since 1920. An attempt to dedicate the chapel at Memorial Amphitheater occurred in 1977. The National Cemetery Act of 1973 required the Secretary of Defense to locate unidentified remains of a Vietnam War veteran, construct a vault for these remains at the Tomb of

10370-424: The period from March 16, 1802, to January 11, 1812, the rank of major general was abolished and brigadier general became the highest rank in the U.S. Army. Foreseeing the need for an expanded general staff in case of war, which seemed imminent, Congress restored the rank of major general in January 1812. The insignia for a brigadier general is one silver star worn on the shoulder or collar, and has not changed since

10492-443: The plaza before the eastern entrance hall. Carved into the granite in front of the tomb sarcophagus were the dates "1917-1918". The Korean War unknown was interred in the northwest vault beneath a slab with the dates "1950-1953" carved into its western edge. The World War II unknown was interred in the southwest vault beneath a slab with the dates "1941-1945" carved into its western edge. The cover slabs of both new vaults were flush with

10614-536: The plaza. The two unknowns were interred on Memorial Day on May 30, 1958. In August, 1960, Congress abolished the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission and transferred its duties to the Secretary of Defense . Although the commission had long ago fulfilled its basic mission of the construction of Memorial Amphitheater, it still had the legal authority to approve the placement of plaques, markers, and other commemorations on

10736-446: The precise dimensions of the 48-star flag. Both orders additionally state that "the color of the field of the President's Flag shall be blue". This left the Navy flag unchanged, but did force a change in the Army version, and so on February 20, 1913, an order was duly issued which switched the background of the Army presidential color to blue and the color of the star in the middle to scarlet. A 46th star had previously been added to

10858-490: The president of the United States The flag of the president of the United States consists of the presidential coat of arms on a dark blue background. While having the same design as the presidential seal since 1945, the flag has a separate history, and the designs on the flag and seal have at different times influenced each other. The flag is often displayed by the president in official photos, or flown next to

10980-443: The president of the United States did not. His cabinet agreed, and Arthur himself apparently decided on the final design. On August 9, 1882, the Navy issued the order: "The flag of the President of the United States shall consist of a blue ground with arms of the United States in the center, and shall be of the dimensions prescribed for the admiral's flag [10.2 by 14.4 feet (3.1 m × 4.4 m)]. The flag shall be hoisted at

11102-571: The president on individual occasions; there are claims that a special flag was used during a trip by President Jackson to New York City in 1832, and a description of a "square, plain blue flag" used on a boat in the Brooklyn naval yard while transporting President Martin Van Buren on July 15, 1839. An 1848 British flag book by John William Norie , and also the 1853 The Illustrated London Geography by Joseph Guy, have similar illustrations of

11224-571: The president, which eventually led each to design their own presidential flag. This did not happen until the late 19th century however, and the Navy at first used existing flags for their ceremonies. The first record in regulations to prescribe a flag for the president was the 1858 Signals for the Use of the United States Navy , which specified that the union jack (the canton of the national flag by itself, i.e. blue with white stars for all

11346-452: The presidential color , so its design lived on and was still used in many situations. Subsequently, a third flag was designed and introduced in May 1902. This flag also showed the Great Seal on a blue background, like the Navy flag, but the eagle, scroll, and arrows were depicted in pure white outlined in black. The crest above the eagle's head was also different; instead of a ring of clouds

11468-416: The sale by The Washington Post , the Army asked Potomack Company to postpone the sale pending investigation of ownership. On January 24, 2011, DHS Designs returned the urns at no cost to Arlington National Cemetery. The Army did not say whether it would display the urns at the cemetery or move them to another Army museum. In 1999, moisture damage to the ceiling in the Memorial Amphitheater chapel wore away

11590-444: The same basic concept used in the later presidential flag of the Navy. Both depictions also use an arc of clouds for the crest, a style which was later (and still is) used on the presidential seal. The 1848 book shows a 26-star U.S. flag, which was in use from 1837 to 1845 (the depicted presidential flag also has 26 stars). As the president is Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, each service developed its own tradition of honoring

11712-406: The same basic design for the eagle, except (in response to some heraldic criticisms) changed the eagle to face towards its right ( dexter , the direction of honor) and thus towards the olive branch, and the eagle was changed to be in full color. Instead of the four stars, a circular ring of 48 stars was added around the eagle. Truman issued Executive Order 9646 on October 25, 1945, which unified

11834-573: The stage contains a semi-circular seating area for about 100 people and an apse in the back. The interior dome of the apse is richly carved, and the square pilasters on either side of the stage list the names of famous American generals (left, as you face the stage) and admirals (right) from the American Revolutionary War through the Spanish–American War. A quote from General George Washington's June 26, 1775, letter to

11956-417: The stage in the amphitheater. By 1995, they had significantly weathered and many details had softened so much as to be unrecognizable. Omni Construction, one of Clark Construction's subcontractors, was assigned to dispose of the urns. Omni turned the urns over to Pagliaro Brothers Stone of Upper Marlboro, Maryland . Pagliaro Brothers Stone said they did not have records about the urns' ultimate fate, but in 1997

12078-464: The stage. Above the west entrance of the amphitheater is a quote from the Roman poet Horace : "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" ("It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country"). Under the colonnade are 300 crypts, which were intended for the burial of important people. In the basement (or ground floor, if approached from the west) beneath the amphitheater stage is a chapel. This domed structure

12200-405: The states) should be flown at the mainmast to signify the presence of the commander-in-chief. In 1863, this was changed to use the national flag instead, but in 1864 was reverted so that once again the jack was used. The Naval Regulations of April 18, 1865, switched back to use the national flag, specifying it should be flown both from the mainmast while the president is aboard a ship, and also on

12322-569: The structure and its grounds was $ 810,812. In total, 87,000 cubic feet (2,500 m) of Mountain White marble from the Danby quarries of Vermont were used in its construction. Memorial Amphitheater was dedicated on May 15, 1920. The Corps of Engineers turned it over to the Quartermaster General's office on July 1. Memorial Amphitheater was designed by Thomas Hastings to be the center of a biaxial grouping of landscape features and monuments that included

12444-447: The unknown soldier's body lined the bottom of the burial vault. After the unknown soldier was lowered into the vault and rested on the soil below, the capstone was sealed with a marble lid. Additional changes to the east front came within just a few years. On July 3, 1926, Congress authorized the completion of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with an appropriate memorial. A design by architect Lorimer Rich and sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones

12566-409: The unknown soldiers lying beneath the Tomb of the Unknowns, and the second floor became offices. Steps lead from the main doors of the entrance hall down to a small plaza. Hastings designed a series of short steps to lead from the plaza down to a landing, and then a series of monumental steps to lead from the landing to the eastern formal garden below. In the center of the short steps was a pedestal for

12688-443: The upper right had an eagle emblem on a white background, and the lower right had the thirteen red and white stripes. This flag was not seriously considered and was not adopted. Samuel Chester Reid , who proposed this design, made a drawing of it years later which showed the eagle and Liberty in switched positions, and had the stars arranged in a larger star. It is possible that distinctive flags were occasionally used to represent

12810-583: The urns ended up in the hands of an unidentified antiques dealer. The dealer sold them to DHS Designs, an antique shop in Queenstown, Maryland . The urns (priced at $ 125,000) never sold, and in 2010 the owner of DHS Designs closed his store and put the urns up for auction. Potomack Company, the Alexandria, Virginia , auction house assigned to handle the urns, advertised them in December 2010—which brought

12932-406: The urns to the attention of preservationists in the D.C. area. According to unnamed preservationist experts interviewed by The Washington Post , the historic urns should have been restored or placed in a museum—not donated to private owners for sale. The U.S. Army, which manages Arlington National Cemetery, said it could not find the 1995 renovation contract and was unable to say what provisions for

13054-414: The urns' disposal had been made nor whether federal property and preservation agencies had been consulted before the urns were replaced. Within a week of press reports about the sale, Arlington National Cemetery officials said that Clark Construction had been instructed to preserve the urns. These instructions met the requirements of Virginia law, which forbade the discard of historic artifacts. Alerted to

13176-411: Was a change in the coat of arms itself. This design was used by the Navy until 1916. In early 1898, during the lead-up to the Spanish–American War and following its first flag for an individual (the Secretary of War) in 1897, it was noted that the Army did not have its own flag for the president, the commander-in-chief. The Navy flag was too similar to the Army infantry flag (which was also primarily

13298-442: Was able to obtain, after lengthy delays, the high-quality marble it needed for the approaches from the island of Vinalhaven, Maine . But railroads and cargo ships were so congested carrying war materiél and military personnel that the marble could not be transported to Arlington National Cemetery until late 1917. By then, another severe winter had set in. Intensely cold weather continued into the late spring, further delaying work. Only

13420-485: Was also ready to connect the water and sewer lines, grade the grounds and roads, and install plantings and sod. During the next nine months, these items were all finished, and the interior painted. The masonry approaches were also completed, and the roadways and sidewalks paved. The G.B. Mullin Co. did the landscape design and work, which involved replanting 20 cedar trees around the three amphitheater entrances. The total cost of

13542-524: Was also the first president to speak in the Memorial Amphitheater before laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, which he did on Memorial Day on May 30, 1923. Harding attended a service in the amphitheater on Memorial Day in May 1922, but did not speak or lay a wreath. He laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns on Veterans Day in November 1922, but did not speak in the amphitheater. On June 1, 1923, Colonel Charles Young (United States Army) , The United States Military's first African American Colonel, became

13664-652: Was cut down and a wooden amphitheater (today known as the Tanner Amphitheater ) constructed in 1873. By the early years of the 1900s, however, the Old Amphitheater had grown far too small for the large ceremonies which were held there. Judge Ivory Kimball , Commander of the Department of the Potomac chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic (or GAR, a veterans' group for those who fought for

13786-455: Was designed to seat 150, and has a raised ambulatory around the edges. As originally designed, the main entrance was in the east through the doors of the cruciform entrance hall. The entrance hall is fronted by a six-columned portico with Corinthian capitals . A frieze above the main bronze doors depicts symbolic trophies of war. The entrance hall is not connected internally with the amphitheater. Stairways, bridges, and short corridors on

13908-467: Was more meant for ceremonial purposes, was smaller than the flag, made of silk, and had a gold and silver fringed border. The dimensions of the flag were 8 by 13 feet (2.4 m × 4.0 m), and the dimensions of the color were 4 by 6.5 feet (1.2 m × 2.0 m). The flag was scarlet, with a large blue star in the middle outlined in white which contained the Great Seal. There were four white stars, one in each corner, and scattered between

14030-455: Was rejected. By 2000, the east entrance hall at Memorial Amphitheater was suffering water damage and other problems yet again. Congress appropriated $ 800,000 in fiscal year 2001 to identify what fixes might be needed. Repairs were made in 2006, which included ameliorating water damage in the basement, first floor, and second floor; repairing and improving roof and exterior drainage; and installing new waterproofing and drains to prevent flooding in

14152-406: Was selected on December 10, 1928. The Lorimer/Hudson design, like nearly all the other submissions, anticipated removing the retaining wall below the tomb and building the monumental staircase first envisioned by Thomas Hastings. Congress agreed with this revision, and on February 28, 1929, authorized construction of the stairs, new road and pedestrian approaches, alterations to the formal gardens, and

14274-582: Was spent on carving for the amphitheater, just $ 2,933 was spent for carving on the inside and outside of the entrance hall. The advent of World War I had a significant impact on the construction of Memorial Amphitheater. The United States entered the war in April 1917, and by spring 1918 American troops were arriving in Europe. Most skilled workers were diverted to the war effort, although artisans (such as marble carvers) were still available. The Corps of Engineers

14396-474: Was supposed to have neared completion on February 15, 1917, but these lengthy delays meant that the construction schedule was extended for a full year. The amphitheater was also proving to be much more costly than expected. Bids from contractors were all far above what the Corps of Engineers expected, but work went ahead anyway. By June 30, 1917, much of the amphitheater and its colonnade were done. Another 35,140 cubic feet (995 m) of marble had been placed for

14518-512: Was the first time the amphitheater had held such a service since the interment of an unknown member of the armed forces representing Vietnam War dead in 1984. Frank Buckles , the last American veteran of World War I, lay in state in the Memorial Amphitheater Chapel in 2011. An Easter sunrise service has been held at Memorial Amphitheater every year since 1931. The first such service was held in 1931 and organized by

14640-502: Was then informally called), the pedestal for the memorial statue envisioned in Hastings' design was removed. Workers dug 20 feet (6.1 m) down into the earth behind the retaining wall. At this level, concrete footings 16 feet 2 inches (4.93 m) long by 9 feet 6 inches (2.90 m) wide were constructed. The earthen walls were reinforced with a burial vault consisting of concrete walls 7 feet (2.1 m) thick at

14762-549: Was used was eye-opening: 4,790 square feet (445 m) for flooring, 4,694 square feet (436.1 m) for stairs, 1,272 square feet (118.2 m) for door and window frames, and 2,033 feet (620 m) of moldings. The eastern steps consumed 4,526 square feet (420.5 m) of concrete. The interior was decorated with ornamental plaster, terra cotta partitions, terrazzo flooring, bronze doors and grillwork, ornamental ironwork railings and stairs, and glazed tile. While more than $ 7,000 ($ 161,500 in 2013 inflation-adjusted U.S. dollars)

14884-422: Was used, above the eagle and on either side of the wings. The eagle, arrows, and olive branch were all in white. The flag was first used by Arthur on a trip to Florida in 1883. It was used primarily aboard boats, such as on the presidential yacht USS Dolphin in 1893 for a naval fleet review during celebrations related to the 400th anniversary of Columbus . There were some exceptions though, such as during

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