“I have lived in the Washington DC area for over 20 years, and I recommend this as the top attraction and tour to take there. Fascinating and powerful in every way. It’s the best way to learn and walk I could imagine. If you appreciate American and military history, you will not find a better tour or a better tour guide for Arlington National Cemetery than Eric Hommel.”
— Brandon A. (USAF)
“Absolutely amazing tour! We found Eric of Vigilance Tours LLC through the Westin website. He came “Highly Recommended.” I have to say, Eric was the best tour guide for Arlington National Cemetery. Eric Hommel, being a two service veteran, a combat veteran with multiple tours, and a private historian, made for a unique, personalized and exciting tour. Eric’s knowledge of history and the geopolitical spectrum surrounding our nation’s capital at the time of the cemetery’s inception was enlightening. He provided vast insight to the landscape, cemetery protocols and architectural symbolisms all the while engaging personally with us. Being a veteran, I was grateful for Eric’s professional demeanor and his like minded reverence for our nation’s most sacred, hallowed grounds. Our three hour walking tour spanned the graves of American heroes, presidents, Chief Justices, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and many of my personal heroes. Eric provided great details regarding grave nuances and anecdotal back stories. We walked away in awe. I cannot recommend Eric Hommel and Vigilance Tours LLC enough! “Highly recommend” is an understatement.”
— Jaimie Browne, Chief Warrant Officer Four, USA (Retired)
“If you travel enough, you end up taking plenty of tours, of museums, of churches (of cemeteries...this was not my first cemetery tour!). Plenty are very good. Plenty are very forgettable. But few stand out. This tour did; it is simply just that - outstanding. Eric is not just knowledgeable, he is interesting and interested. There is so much history and context at and for Arlington, and Eric conveys it as an expert storyteller, who is telling the story of our country. And he remains so clearly interested in a subject he talks about and thinks about so much! And because of that, I now have a hold at the library on General George C. Marshall and will likely read Eric’s own book as well. There are lots of tours to consider. I saw lots of tours at Arlington. I am confident when I say this is the best one and that I had the best time - this tour was a highlight of my weeklong trip to DC, and I pretty much loved everything I saw and did. If all this sounds like a) I somehow am related to Eric and he made me write this (ha!), or b) this is too overly enthusiastic to be true, you are completely wrong on both counts. Message me if you like, but really, just trust me. You can then message me after and thank me.”
