CNN 2010-06-04

When we think of paying respects to the grave site, we think of, perhaps, saying a prayer or perhaps laying flowers, but at one very special section of Arlington National Cemetery 1, we'll find some very personal mementos 2 left by comrades of the fallen. CNN's Barbara Starr is there at Arlington National Cemetery. Barbara, I imagine you're talking about section 60?

Indeed, Brooke. We are here at section 60 this morning at Arlington National Cemetery where hundreds of troops who have fallen on the battlefield of Iraq and Afghanistan have been laid to rest, and their history is being preserved.

Here at Arlington National Cemetery, section 60, a tradition of not just paying respect but leaving something to honor those who have fallen on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. For years, flowers, photos, letters, teddy bears, all kinds of remembrances have been left. Army curator, Roderick Gainer, is here on a labor 3 of love in a place full of grief.

Tell me about section 60.

This is where many of the casualties in the current military operations are buried. And so you can see sort of the real cost of war when you're here.

For the first time, the army is gathering 4 up and preserving mementos.

You're really recording 5 the history of this place and these people?

Yes, very much.

Gainer and volunteers recorded bag some very personal remembrances.

We actually recovered letter saying, you know, I was lucky I got out of here, you know, don't think about trouble times. We are going by grave to grave on a weekly basis recovering items that have been left here. And we, basically, these items into a database and photograph the grave.

You see an awful lot of personal things left here.

Yes.

Very personal.

Very personal things. I've seen everything from report cards to an Alabama football ticket stub from crimson 6 tide. Obviously, the sea (ph) service person was a tide fan. Letters. Hotel keys I've seen. Many jewelry 7, lots of things.

Let's look at some of the things that you're going to be collecting here now.

We mentioned the bracelet 8 before, Sergeant 9 David Cristoff. It was his sort of remembrance bracelet. Obviously. The name of this soldier. And here appears to be a letter. Here you have the grave of Shane Adcock. You can clearly see a bronze star has been left on here. His birth date was May 24th which was a few days ago, so these things were left here for his birthday. We will gather these items because it's after his birthday.

There is also a letter.

It looks like it says, happy birthday, bro. Stay safe. And I'll see you on the higher ground.

Yes. And Shane, thanks for looking over me. I love and miss you. We'll meet you again in heaven. Sure snap.

Buddies 10 who came by one last time. And you'll personally take that.

Yes, we'll take all of these items.

Ok.

On some graves, we now see photographs have been permanently 11 attached.

Yes, you see several places around here.

What's your sense of why families are doing this, trying to affix 12 somewhat of a permanence to this?

Remembrance. I mean, nothing says remembrance like a face. You know, when you read Justin Ray Davis, private first class of the United States army, born 1987, and died at 2006, this really drives that home.

There is a face here. This is a person.

Young man, 19 years old.

STARR: The army isn't sure yet what it will do with everything it's collecting, but one thing is certain, families and friends will come every Memorial Day, and young men will stand at attention for those who didn't make it.

And Brooke, we wanted to keep ourselves out of the picture and just show the viewers this morning at section 60, parents, family, friends, young children, all here to pay their respects to the fallen on Memorial Day 2010 -- Brooke.

Walking through Arlington, it just gives you goose bumps of gratitude 13. Barbara Starr, excellent, excellent report. Thank you.