On June 23, my brother, Peter Dempsey, had the immense honor of being buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His decades of military service earned him this well-deserved final tribute. As his brother, I am incredibly proud of the legacy he leaves behind through his family and his service.
Peter always dreamed of becoming a pilot, and he made it happen in many different ways throughout his career.
His journey as a pilot began when he enlisted in the Washington National Guard, where he trained to fly helicopters and was eventually deployed to Vietnam. There, he served two tours, including time spent on the front lines. His skills and service earned him the role of chief pilot for General Creighton Abrams, a US Army general who commanded military operations from 1968 to 1972. This was just chapter one for him.
Following his time in the Washington National Guard, Peter completed a BA in International Marketing from the University of Puget Sound. He continued flying helicopters for the National Guard while earning his ATP certification, which qualified him for his dream job as a commercial pilot with United Airlines. However, life had other plans in store for him; he was furloughed shortly after getting this job.
This setback didn’t slow Peter down one bit. He simply shifted focus and went on to teach Military Science at the University of Idaho. In fact, this job brought him so much joy that he almost didn’t go return to flying for United Airlines when they called him back. He did go, of course, and enjoyed a 25-year career there before moving on to fill the role of flight instructor for Boeing.
Through it all, Peter maintained his dedication to the military.
It’s an extraordinary honor to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Located in Arlington, Virginia, it was established in 1864 during the American Civil War. It occupies the former estate of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and his wife, Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee.
Union soldiers were the first to be buried here when nearby cemeteries reached capacity. After the war, the estate remained a military cemetery and eventually became the nation's most revered resting place for service members, veterans, and their families.
In 2026, Arlington National Cemetery is the resting place of over 400,000 military personnel, veterans, and notable Americans. Today, burial there is primarily reserved for:
My brother's burial service was quite something. The precision and formality of the ceremony especially stood out to Peter’s family and friends in attendance.
We watched the procession, committal service, military honors, and the presentation of the flag to Peter’s next of kin, his wife Sharon. In addition, a Catholic priest delivered the eulogies and some readings.
As we mourn his passing, we take comfort in knowing his dedication and service to his country will live on forever in Arlington National Cemetery.
Lorem
