Arlington Guard Confrontation

Wanted to advise you of a confrontation I had with a security guard in Arlington this morning. I was bringing my group down the Custis Walk from Arlington House - crossing section 5 to visit the 4 Rear Admiral Wellings brothers and then on to JFK - when I heard a security guard screaming at us from the JFK plaza 'Get off the grass!! Get off the grass!! Get off the grass!!' She attracted quite an audience. Then she came out onto the grass herself to confront me. I was ready for her. I had the letter from the Executive Director of Arlington, Karen Durham-Aguilera, written to me in June stating that it was absolutely permitted to walk on the grass. This guard, a J. Roland, continued to tell me I was wrong. First she tried to tell me that only families could walk on the grass. I noted that the letter did not say that. Then she said it was not permitted in the Supreme Court section. I told her the letter did not say that. Then she said there were 'do not walk' signs in this section. There are, of course, none of them coming down the Custis Walkway. By this time we were over to the handicapped sidewalk coming up to JFK, so we got on the sidewalk. I told her I was going to report her to Arlington management. There was quite a crowd gathered around to watch what was happening.

I apologized to my group afterward. They all said they thought I had handled it professionally and that the guard was out of line - especially as I had a letter from her boss.

Just a heads up if any of you cross that section from Custis Walk to JFK that there is at least one guard who is willing to embarrass herself and the cemetery to try to make a point. I don't have Derrick's email - but I believe he uses this route as well. I told her I was going to write once again to the Executive Director - and I have. I did not mention 'Unscripted' anywhere in the conversation so not dragging the company into this. They just need to get their damned rules straight where everyone is on the same page. I'll let you know if I hear anything else. Here is the portion of the letter written to me in June regarding 'walking on the grass'.