Arlington National Cemetary and the stories we share

.     Located in Arlington Virginia the cemetery sits on over 600 acres of land with surrounding lands of upwards of 200 acres potentially available in the future. The land was acquired from the Washington and Lee family by the government for reasons of an unpaid tax. The lesson one gets from learning the story is always go pay your taxes in person.
.     What's surprising to note is that while the area of the cemetery is so large, the distance between the attractions of the Arlington house, the Kennedy Gravesite and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is not a far walk at all. Given the chance to go again, I'd visit the section dedicated to nurses in the military and I'd explore section 60 to see what mementos have been granted a month's leave to be left at graves.
.     The nurses section seems to be less structured and has a peaceful shady solemn feel, and section 60 is the area of Arlington that is interring Afganistan and Iraq war veterans. Arlington has a no-leaving mementos policy, however collection is only the first friday of the month and if it appears to have been left recently, the collections guard will leave a memento until the next month's pick-up. They even have a policy for artistic or signifigant mementos to be photographed, catalogued, sometimes stored and sometimes put into the historic archives.
.     It has always been the story behind things that fascinates me. This is why I enjoy visiting cemeteries. The chance to read a quote, perhaps see a memento, and to imagine what an entire life may have had in any one moment. It is a feeling that is enjoyable. Not to mention the value of paying respects to someone who lived and died.
.     This brings me to my find of the day. Electronic barcodes on gravestones. Call it disrespectful or call it a good idea, but the concept was inevitable. With so much technology now, and with barcodes promising the ability to "find out more" by scanning a small digitized picture it's easy to create an online photo-album and information page and link to it easily through your phone or computer.
.     The ability to share a loved one's in-depth story with anyone who scans their stone can be comforting and empowering and makes for a unique date in my world. I remember wandering around wondering who were the people I'm reading dates and quotes about. Now I have the ability to find out details I never could have guessed, see pictures and know who might have survived this person who otherwise would have been  just a name and a date to little ol' me.
.     Arlington National Cemetery probably wont allow something like this, they are a bit more traditional, but for the rest of the millions of cemeteries out there there are companies that provide this service. However; some lamination tape, a basic bar-code creator and a web-site are really all you need to tell the world, or at least anyone who wanders by, about this important person and who they were to you.