Arlington Cemetery celebrates 'Unknown Soldier'

This Veterans Day celebration at Arlington National Cemetery was modeled to resemble the World War I funeral service of the "Unknown Soldier," that was held 100 years ago.

The ceremony Thursday at Arlington National Cemetery included joint service flyovers with aircraft from all branches of the military and a full honors procession along a special route inside Arlington National Cemetery.

In opening remarks honoring the centennial anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Allison S. Finkelstein, Arlington National Cemetery senior historian said: "This was no victory parade celebrating the end of a war. Rather, it was a somber funeral procession to inaugurate a new American tradition the tomb of the Unknown Soldier."

In the procession service members wearing uniforms from World War I, World War II and the Korean War, marched through the cemetery while military bands played.

President Biden saluted the nation's military veterans as "the spine of America" as he marked his first Veterans Day as president in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.