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AUDIE L. MURPHY
TEXAS
MAJOR INFANTRY
WORLD WAR II
JUNE 20, 1924 - MAY 28, 1971
MEDAL OF HONOR
DSC - SS & OLC
LM - BSM & OLC
PH & 2 OLC
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Above is the actual headstone of Audie Murphy's grave located at America's most sacred monument, Arlington National
Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Second only to President John F. Kennedy's gravesite, Audie's final resting place is without a doubt one of the most popular places visited at Arlington National Cemetery.
Despite the size of the cemetery, finding the exact location of Audie Murphy's burial site is easy. It is directly across the street from the front of the Arlington National Cemetery Amphitheater. When you arrive at the amphitheater, you will find Audie's grave across the street from the front of the amphitheater. The grave is very close to a shady tree. Shortly after Audie was interred at Arlington, caretakers had to install a special concrete walkway leading up to the site. The walkway circles the tree and passes directly to the side of Audie's grave. A chained railing was also provided to add protection to Audie's final resting place. In the photo below, Audie's grave is located slightly to the right of the "No Parking" sign. If you look carefully, you can see the American flag planted on the headstone's left side.
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Shade Tree Protecting Audie Murphy's Grave
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Shade Tree and Circular Walkway by Audie Murphy's Grave
30 July 2006
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Photo by Maria Rodgers
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Also located very close to Audie's gravesite is the amphitheater flag pole, known as the Woodhull flag pole, where the Army's Old Guard daily raises and retires the U.S. flag. As part of their official duties, it is the Tomb's Sentinels that lower the flag at the Woodhull flag pole. It is officially known as Retreat and is performed daily immediately following the 1700 hours Changing of the Guard. Below, a flag detail from the retires the colors perhaps 100 feet to the left of Audie's grave.
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U.S. Army Old Guard Flag Detail
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Flag Detail retiring the U.S. Colors close to Audie's grave
30 July 2006
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Photo by Maria Rodgers
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Immediately behind the amphitheater is the Tomb of the Unknowns. Every half hour, the Army's Old Guard has a changing-of-the-guard ceremony which is very moving. The ceremony is performed by soldiers who are stationed at Fort Myer, Virginia which abuts Arlington National Cemetery. These soldiers, many of which are Sergeant Audie Murphy Club members, protect the Tomb of the Unknowns, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They are hand-picked and are absolutely some of the finest military service people you will ever see. They haven't missed a second or a step since they began guarding the tomb in 1921. The Old Guard performs many details, including full honors ceremonies, funerals, etc. (About two years ago Bravo Company was deployed, the first time since Vietnam.) They also have specialty platoons, such as the Sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Below is a picture of a sentinel protecting the Tomb of the Unknowns.
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Tomb of the Unknowns
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Sentinel protecting the Tomb of the Unknown near Audie's grave
30 July, 2006
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Photo by Maria Rodgers
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When you arrive at the cemetery, you should visit the information building and pickup a brochure with a detailed map. This map pinpoints the location of Audie Murphy's grave and if you choose to walk, you will have no difficulty finding the spot. On the other hand, the walk will be rather long and you will have to follow winding roads along well shaded hills. If you choose to make the walk, you may get tired out ... particularly in the middle of the summer when temperatures may hit the 90's. The photo below, taken not too far away from Audie's grave site, shows that even the local squirrels are grateful for the opportunity to enjoy cool and shady spots at the cemetery in the middle of the summer.
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Black Squirrel Resting
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This black squirrel remained in this location
nearly an hour in the late summer afternoon
enjoying the coolness of the shaded headstone.
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Photo by Anastasia Rodgers
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If you decide not to hike, you have the option of purchasing tour bus tickets from inside the information building. These tickets cost $5.50 per adult when I visited on July 30th, 2006. If you take the bus, you can get off at three stops scattered throughout the cemetery, walk around, and then return to designated bus stops where you will be quickly picked up and eventually returned to the starting point by the information center. The bus will stop at the Kennedy Family Gravesite, the Amphitheater (where Audie's grave is located at), and the Arlington House (General Robert E. Lee's home).
To print or view the map provided by the Arlington National Cemetery Information Center, click one of the two buttons located directly below.
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