While living at Fort Leavenworth, I have become accustomed to seeing the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery as I drive to work and as I run past. There are very few times that I pass the cemetery that I do not take even a brief moment to pause and reflect on the amount of the men and women who were buried in this relatively small cemetery and the cost of our freedoms.
The Fort Leavenworth Cemetery is a beautiful wooded cemetery that holds the remains of many of our nations beloved sons and daughters who have served our country from the civil war until the present.
When I run past the cemetery on my runs, I am always struck by the peacefulness of the area and the majestic nature of this part of post.
Listed in 1999 in the National Register of Historic places, the Fort Leavenworth Cemetery is a place to see the burial grounds of many of our nations heroes.
One of those heroes buried there is Henry Leavenworth, who established Fort Leavenworth on May 8, 1827.
Another hero buried there is Captain Harry Bell, Medal of Honor Recipient. He earned this Medal of Honor during the Philippine Insurrection on October 17, 1899.
Other heroes, however, remain unknown. This was a revelation tome as I walked through the cemetery. There are a number of Unknown Soldiers buried in the Fort Leavenworth Cemetery, which is a reminder to me of the struggles our forefathers.
As we walk through our lives, may we never forget or take lightly the sacrifice that was made by so many to give us the freedoms that we enjoy.