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上千美军在美国国家公墓阵亡将士36万墓碑前遍插国旗

On Memorial Day - Monday, May 27 this year - Americans remember those in the military who died while serving their country. Ahead of that day, soldiers place American flags in front of the more than 360,000 gravestones in Arlington National Cemetery¹, outside Washington.

美国人民将永远铭记为国据捐躯的阵亡将士。在5月27日星期一的阵亡将士纪念日到来之际，一千多名现役军人来到首都华盛顿郊外的阿灵顿国家公墓，在36万多座墓碑前插上国旗。

Army Colonel James Markert placed a flag at the tombstone of Christopher Henderson, who was killed in Afghanistan almost six years ago. Henderson’s widow, Jennifer, and their daughter came to the cemetery as they have every year since he died.

陆军上校马尔科特在亨德森的墓碑前献上一面国旗，亨德森六年前在伊拉克阵亡。他的遗孀詹妮弗和女儿每年都来公墓悼念他。

“Being here with him, it’s a closer connection and it’s a way to honor what he did,” explained Jennifer Henderson.

詹妮弗说：“我来这里陪陪他，觉得能离他稍微近点儿，也为了纪念他为国捐躯。”

The 3rd US infantry², known as the Old Guard, is a ceremonial unit. It has been placing flags at the graves for about 60 years. Colonel Markert is the commander.

美国陆军第三兵团，俗称“老近卫军”(Old Guard)是守护阿灵顿国家公墓的仪仗卫队。60多年来，他们一直在为墓碑敬献国旗。马尔科特上校是这一兵团的指挥官。

“It's a way of sustaining that promise to our service members that if something should happen to them, we’ll make sure their families in there are taken care of and remembered,” said Markert.

他说：“我们用这种方式来实现对士兵们的承诺，如果他们在前线发生任何事，我们会照顾好他的家人。”

This family is visiting the gravesite of William Beardsley, who also died in Iraq and would have been 32 years old today. His mother, Diana, said they leave messages when they visit.

这个家庭前来悼念波尔德斯黎，他也是在伊拉克阵亡的，如果没有牺牲，他今年就32岁了。他的母亲戴安娜说，他们来看望他，向他汇报一家人的近况。

“Especially the kids, filling him in where they’re at in their lives, and what’s happened over the last year, and we read them here at the gravesite,” said Diana Beardsley.

她说：“特别是孩子们，他们会告诉他过去一年中他们的生活中都发生了什么，我们会在他的墓前读给他听。”

It takes 1,300 soldiers about three hours to place a flag at each grave, some of which date back to 1864 and the American Civil War. Some of the gravestones indicate that service members fought in multiple wars.

1300名美国军人花了三个小时向阿灵顿国家公墓的每一位阵亡将士敬献国旗, 其中一些人的阵亡时间可以追溯到1864年美国南北战争期间。还有一些阵亡将士不止参加过一次战争。

This is the first time Sergeant³ Ricardo Rodriguez has taken part in the Flags-In ceremony.

里卡尔多中士头一次参加敬献国旗仪式。

“I feel very privileged to be out here and render our honors to our fallen comrades,” said Rodriguez.

他说：“能来这儿向阵亡的战友献上我的敬意，我感到非常荣幸。”

The soldiers carry dozens of flags in their backpacks. They place one about 30 centimeters in front of each headstone, using a shoe to help measure the distance.

每个士兵的背包里都装了几十面国旗。他们会用脚量距离，将国旗放置在距离墓碑前方大约30厘米处。奥戈诺夫斯基中士是老近卫军的第五代战士。

Sergeant Ann Ogonowski is a fifth generation soldier. "It’s a pride and honor. This is the finest thing, I believe, that you can do honorably as a soldier in this unit.”

他说：“这使人感到骄傲和光荣。这是一种美好的工作，只有作为这个兵团的一员里才能有幸从事这种任务。”

Specialist Taylor Davis, who has taken part for several years, is awestruck by the size of the cemetery.

特种兵戴维斯已经连续好几年参加这项活动，他对公墓的规模深感震撼。

“The sheer number of men and women who are buried there and the feeling of inspiration. It’s really a very unique feeling,” said Taylor.

他说：“仅仅从被安葬在这里的士兵的人数来看，以及它带给你的那种启发，这是一种独特的感受。”

And for those whose loved ones are buried in Arlington National Cemetery, it gives them a special feeling too.

当然，对于那些埋葬在阿灵顿国家公墓的阵亡将士的家人来说，这种感受尤为强烈。