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On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery
Created at the end of the Civil War, Arlington National Cemetery has become a part of the landscape as fixed in the national imagination as the White House or the Capitol building. The mansion at Arlington's heart, and the rolling hills on which it sits, had been the family plantation of Robert E. Lee before he joined the Confederacy; strategic to the defense of Washington, Arlington became a Union encampment, a haven for freedmen, and a pauper's cemetery for soldiers dying in the nation's bloodiest conflict.
With the passage of time, new layers of meaning were added to Arlington, which would become our nation's most honored shrine. More than three hundred thousand rest in Arlington's 624 acres, representing every war the nation ever fought. Each tombstone tells a story, from the Tomb of the Unknowns, so carefully tended today, to the eternal flame at John F. Kennedy's grave to the final resting places of ordinary citizen-warriors sleeping among Arlington's rolling green hills. Their stories, and the cemetery's time-honored rituals – the horse-drawn caissons, the rifle salutes, the sounding of Taps – still speak to us all.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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2264 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
May 8, 2014
I think this book will be placed on my all time favorite list.It is a very well researched book. So many facts that I didn't know about and many that I did.The stories about the process about choosing the unknowns to the funeral of JFK.If your interested in American history you should read this book .You will not be disappointed.
January 15, 2020
Great book detailing the history and workings of Arlington National Cemetery. It is well researched and written and brings all it's rich traditions to life through all the individual stories that made Arlington what it is today. Arlington is a bucket-list destination for me and after reading this book I will better understand this sacred place.
April 20, 2011
This is really an excellent read. I thought it was a liitle slow at first but then I couldn't stop reading once I got into it. More than anything I can't believe how much I don't know about American History. THe stories are so fascinating and interesting. I haven't vistited Arlington but now can't wait to.
May 16, 2012
I just loved this book! Arlington has always been a place of honor and respect for our military, and I was just thrilled to read this riveting account of such an amazing piece of America's history. The author made sure to include such fascinating nuggets of information about some of the people buried there, how the land was acquired, the story behind all the ceremony that goes into a military funeral, and so much more. He spent a lot of time in the second half of the book on President Kennedy's funeral and the search for unidentified service members that were to be interred in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from each of the major wars/conflicts. Overall, a must read for anyone - not just those interested in American history!
April 24, 2010
I first became aware of Arlington National Cemetery after President Kennedy was assassinated. Like so much of the country during those dark days, I watched the funeral on television. Growing up during the sixties, Arlington was ever-present, as many of the young soldiers who died in Viet Nam were buried there. Yet it wasn’t until a few years ago that I became aware that the site had originally been the plantation belonging to Robert E. Lee, the general who led the Confederate forces during the Civil War.
I’ve visited Washington, DC several times. On my most recent trip, I was able to visit Arlington. Several surprises were waiting for me. Lee’s house is still standing. For some reason, I thought that it had been destroyed during the Civil War. There are areas with grave monuments that I would have expected to see in a civilian cemetery rather than the more austere uniform markers found in the rest of Arlington. Most puzzling was the placement of some of the memorials. Especially the mass grave in what looked to me to formerly be a garden.
The answers to all of these mysteries are found in Robert Poole’s excellent book on the history of Arlington. I hesitate to use the word “history” which conjures up the idea of a dry tome filled with names and dates and battles. Mr. Poole’s book contains all of those but he tells his story in a more reader friendly manner.
Just because this is a history written for a popular audience doesn’t mean that it has been dumbed down at all. The author covers each major era in the history of Arlington, seemingly without omitting a single significant detail. He tells how the cemetery came into being, how the traditions we see today are the result of years of development some of them still evolving, and how and why burials were placed in the cemetery.
The story of Arlington National cemetery is as much the story of the military and government officials of their times as it is about our country. I’m sure that many readers will be surprised, as I was, to learn that Arlington was not always the revered place that it is today. After reading Mr. Poole’s first-rate account, it’s easy to understand how a need for burial space and one man’s near obsession with appropriating the property of a traitor became a national symbol and coveted place to spend eternity.
I’m looking forward to visiting Arlington again, this time with a better understanding of it and with this book tucked under my arm.
I’ve visited Washington, DC several times. On my most recent trip, I was able to visit Arlington. Several surprises were waiting for me. Lee’s house is still standing. For some reason, I thought that it had been destroyed during the Civil War. There are areas with grave monuments that I would have expected to see in a civilian cemetery rather than the more austere uniform markers found in the rest of Arlington. Most puzzling was the placement of some of the memorials. Especially the mass grave in what looked to me to formerly be a garden.
The answers to all of these mysteries are found in Robert Poole’s excellent book on the history of Arlington. I hesitate to use the word “history” which conjures up the idea of a dry tome filled with names and dates and battles. Mr. Poole’s book contains all of those but he tells his story in a more reader friendly manner.
Just because this is a history written for a popular audience doesn’t mean that it has been dumbed down at all. The author covers each major era in the history of Arlington, seemingly without omitting a single significant detail. He tells how the cemetery came into being, how the traditions we see today are the result of years of development some of them still evolving, and how and why burials were placed in the cemetery.
The story of Arlington National cemetery is as much the story of the military and government officials of their times as it is about our country. I’m sure that many readers will be surprised, as I was, to learn that Arlington was not always the revered place that it is today. After reading Mr. Poole’s first-rate account, it’s easy to understand how a need for burial space and one man’s near obsession with appropriating the property of a traitor became a national symbol and coveted place to spend eternity.
I’m looking forward to visiting Arlington again, this time with a better understanding of it and with this book tucked under my arm.
January 31, 2015
On Monday, November 25, 1963, I stood among the thousands in front of Arlington House watching the burial of John F. Kennedy. His family, nation and world leaders paid their respects to our murdered leader. Then as now Arlington National Cemetery represented our nation’s way of honoring it’s fallen soldiers, whether President or private.
If that image appeals to you, don’t read this book.
Arlington National Cemetery, as exhaustively documented by Mr. Poole, started as the vengeful scheme of a glory-seeking Union general who stole Confederate general Robert E. Lee’s land and salted it with graves to punish his treason. The cemetery grew in the nation’s consciousness whenever politicians needed to manipulate the public, in general, or veterans and their survivors, in particular.
Despite that, Arlington became an appropriate memorial to our deceased defenders. The silliness—like Montgomery C. Mieg’s self-aggrandizing monument on Row 1 of Section 1, or Jackie Kennedy’s over-the-top demands for her husband’s funeral, or Ronald Reagan’s demand for a Vietnam unknown, even though there were no Vietnam unknowns—is barely balanced by the humanity—like John J. Pershing’s requested burial among the soldiers rather than with the generals.
I am a veteran of two foreign wars. Excuse my rancor at the politicians and toy soldiers, who confuse ceremony with respect.
Well documented and well written, but I’m almost sorry I read it. Too much space is given to the Civil War. Not until page 68 is the first military burial recorded. Naturally Arlington’s role grew and changed with the changing nature of America’s conflicts. World War Two is treated best—not at all. Poole’s narrative picks up in 1945.
Fortunately most folks with loved ones buried there don’t know all the mean-spirited, prideful maneuvers which accompanied most of its development.It's enough to know that their nation recognizes their sacrifice.
If that image appeals to you, don’t read this book.
Arlington National Cemetery, as exhaustively documented by Mr. Poole, started as the vengeful scheme of a glory-seeking Union general who stole Confederate general Robert E. Lee’s land and salted it with graves to punish his treason. The cemetery grew in the nation’s consciousness whenever politicians needed to manipulate the public, in general, or veterans and their survivors, in particular.
Despite that, Arlington became an appropriate memorial to our deceased defenders. The silliness—like Montgomery C. Mieg’s self-aggrandizing monument on Row 1 of Section 1, or Jackie Kennedy’s over-the-top demands for her husband’s funeral, or Ronald Reagan’s demand for a Vietnam unknown, even though there were no Vietnam unknowns—is barely balanced by the humanity—like John J. Pershing’s requested burial among the soldiers rather than with the generals.
I am a veteran of two foreign wars. Excuse my rancor at the politicians and toy soldiers, who confuse ceremony with respect.
Well documented and well written, but I’m almost sorry I read it. Too much space is given to the Civil War. Not until page 68 is the first military burial recorded. Naturally Arlington’s role grew and changed with the changing nature of America’s conflicts. World War Two is treated best—not at all. Poole’s narrative picks up in 1945.
Fortunately most folks with loved ones buried there don’t know all the mean-spirited, prideful maneuvers which accompanied most of its development.It's enough to know that their nation recognizes their sacrifice.
July 27, 2017
3.5/5 stars
I had to read this book for school and let me tell you. It is not a "story" it is a textbook. So be warned it will take you some time to read because it is very dense. But all in all it wasn't as bad as it could be!
I had to read this book for school and let me tell you. It is not a "story" it is a textbook. So be warned it will take you some time to read because it is very dense. But all in all it wasn't as bad as it could be!
November 19, 2019
Arlington National Cemetery is considered by many as America's most hallowed ground.
The former estate of the Custis and Lee families, it was confiscated when Robert E. Lee resigned his commission with the U.S. Army and joined the Confederate Army. Arlington is just over the Potomac from Washington, D.C. and would have been too close to the Union capitol for comfort. So Quartermaster, General Meigs, in his disgust at traitor Lee's actions, decided to use the extensive estate as a union soldier burial ground - as close to the house as possible in order to 'repel' the owners. The excuse - it was confiscated for unpaid tax bills but they would only accept payment from the owner. Even if Mary Custis Lee attempted to pay (which she didn't, a cousin tried), she would have been captured and used as a hostage against Lee.
Some far reaches of the estate also established a Freedman's Village for former slaves to find homes - supposedly only temporary but the village lasted over 40 years.
After the war, thousands of dead were re-interred at Arlington. Monuments of all sorts - this was the days before the identical stone markers which were introduced in 1874. A Napoleonic cannon marks one grave while huge marble angels and stele mark others.
Ownership was still in dispute but was finally settled in 1883. The government paid the family $150,000 and the children of Mary and Robert basically walked away from their home estate.
Poole extensively goes into the trouble and effort the United States goes through regarding the recovery and re-interment of American military war dead starting with the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War 1 and 2, the Korean police action, Vietnam and even today's conflicts in the Gulf and Afghanistan.
Some tales include:
L'Enfant, the architect of D.C. who was thoroughly ignored early on.
John Paul Jones, revolutionary War Naval commander who died in France
Robert Peary, the explorer
General James Lingan, also a Revolutionary War casualty
Lt. Thomas Selfridge, aviator killed in a Wright test warplane in 1908
Captain Johnny Spann, former Marine and member of the CIA's paramilitary division
Private Francis Lupo, lost-in-action (and killed) in France in 1918, who was finally interred at Arlington in 2006
Whole chapters are dedicated to the search for the American soldier who would fulfill the position of the Unknown Soldier for each conflict since it starting in 1918. Surprisingly, all but 2.2% have been identified from that specific war.
Then there is the guarding of the Tomb of the Unknown - originally started in 1923 as watchmen were to keep people from sitting on the tomb. Also to rouse photographers and picnickers from the area. Armed soldiers were assigned in 1926 and shortly after, their duty became around the clock. To be part of the Old Guard is considered one of the proudest assignments and the author managed to get some personal insights from the Guards themselves.
And of course, then there was the workers at Arlington that saw the low-flying plane just before it hit the Pentagon.
Some additional comments that the author included Lee's oath of allegiance to citizenship was 'lost' in October 1865. It was finally accepted and signed in 1975. The 'battle' where to build the Pentagon which was only going to be temporary. The additional land purchased again and again in order to continue having room for our war-dead.
Appears to be exhaustively researched and although Poole understandably focuses at the beginning on the Civil War and Meigs' vendetta against Lee (which got monotonous after a while), once he moves away from that time period, he is able to stick in additional tidbits of information which made the read much more interesting and appealing.
2019-164
The former estate of the Custis and Lee families, it was confiscated when Robert E. Lee resigned his commission with the U.S. Army and joined the Confederate Army. Arlington is just over the Potomac from Washington, D.C. and would have been too close to the Union capitol for comfort. So Quartermaster, General Meigs, in his disgust at traitor Lee's actions, decided to use the extensive estate as a union soldier burial ground - as close to the house as possible in order to 'repel' the owners. The excuse - it was confiscated for unpaid tax bills but they would only accept payment from the owner. Even if Mary Custis Lee attempted to pay (which she didn't, a cousin tried), she would have been captured and used as a hostage against Lee.
Some far reaches of the estate also established a Freedman's Village for former slaves to find homes - supposedly only temporary but the village lasted over 40 years.
After the war, thousands of dead were re-interred at Arlington. Monuments of all sorts - this was the days before the identical stone markers which were introduced in 1874. A Napoleonic cannon marks one grave while huge marble angels and stele mark others.
Ownership was still in dispute but was finally settled in 1883. The government paid the family $150,000 and the children of Mary and Robert basically walked away from their home estate.
Poole extensively goes into the trouble and effort the United States goes through regarding the recovery and re-interment of American military war dead starting with the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War 1 and 2, the Korean police action, Vietnam and even today's conflicts in the Gulf and Afghanistan.
Some tales include:
L'Enfant, the architect of D.C. who was thoroughly ignored early on.
John Paul Jones, revolutionary War Naval commander who died in France
Robert Peary, the explorer
General James Lingan, also a Revolutionary War casualty
Lt. Thomas Selfridge, aviator killed in a Wright test warplane in 1908
Captain Johnny Spann, former Marine and member of the CIA's paramilitary division
Private Francis Lupo, lost-in-action (and killed) in France in 1918, who was finally interred at Arlington in 2006
Whole chapters are dedicated to the search for the American soldier who would fulfill the position of the Unknown Soldier for each conflict since it starting in 1918. Surprisingly, all but 2.2% have been identified from that specific war.
Then there is the guarding of the Tomb of the Unknown - originally started in 1923 as watchmen were to keep people from sitting on the tomb. Also to rouse photographers and picnickers from the area. Armed soldiers were assigned in 1926 and shortly after, their duty became around the clock. To be part of the Old Guard is considered one of the proudest assignments and the author managed to get some personal insights from the Guards themselves.
And of course, then there was the workers at Arlington that saw the low-flying plane just before it hit the Pentagon.
Some additional comments that the author included Lee's oath of allegiance to citizenship was 'lost' in October 1865. It was finally accepted and signed in 1975. The 'battle' where to build the Pentagon which was only going to be temporary. The additional land purchased again and again in order to continue having room for our war-dead.
Appears to be exhaustively researched and although Poole understandably focuses at the beginning on the Civil War and Meigs' vendetta against Lee (which got monotonous after a while), once he moves away from that time period, he is able to stick in additional tidbits of information which made the read much more interesting and appealing.
2019-164
January 9, 2011
This was a Kindle book my mother loaned me (under the new features - COOL, but that means I only had two weeks before the loan ended on the book), and she had spoken to me for a few weeks about it.
This book is a history of how Arlington came to be America's National Cemetery. What I found particularly interesting was that it had belong the the family of Robert E. Lee - his wife's property and has an amazing history. The mansion was originally intended to be living memorial to George Washington, was owned and constructed by his adopted grandson, George Washington Parke Custis; the son of John Parke Custis who was a child of Martha Washington from her first marriage and a ward of George Washington.
Upon the cession of Virgina during what became the Civil War, the Union Government acquired the property through what was shall call interesting means...BUT since the Civil War Arlington has been one of the most controversial properties related to Washington D.C. has has played a large, if quiet, role in the development of the country.
What I found interesting is this is a history, but interwoven into the facts are the biographies of people who were associated with it - from the grandest architect and presidents, down to the names of of the first soldiers buried there, as well as the slaves who had worked for the Lee family prior to the Civil War. There are so many people buried that, it is impossible to name everyone in a book of this length, but the author Poole was dedicated to bringing some of those stories, great and small, to life.
This book is a history of how Arlington came to be America's National Cemetery. What I found particularly interesting was that it had belong the the family of Robert E. Lee - his wife's property and has an amazing history. The mansion was originally intended to be living memorial to George Washington, was owned and constructed by his adopted grandson, George Washington Parke Custis; the son of John Parke Custis who was a child of Martha Washington from her first marriage and a ward of George Washington.
Upon the cession of Virgina during what became the Civil War, the Union Government acquired the property through what was shall call interesting means...BUT since the Civil War Arlington has been one of the most controversial properties related to Washington D.C. has has played a large, if quiet, role in the development of the country.
What I found interesting is this is a history, but interwoven into the facts are the biographies of people who were associated with it - from the grandest architect and presidents, down to the names of of the first soldiers buried there, as well as the slaves who had worked for the Lee family prior to the Civil War. There are so many people buried that, it is impossible to name everyone in a book of this length, but the author Poole was dedicated to bringing some of those stories, great and small, to life.
June 20, 2014
Great read on the history of Arlington, it's traditions and the figures honorably buried therein.
February 15, 2022
Amazing, amazing read. If you want to know anything about Arlington National Cemetery read this book. I can't wait to visit it again so I can see it with new eyes because of all this information. Amazing! Thanks Robert M. Poole for this book.
December 7, 2024
I learned a lot by reading this book and would have given it a 4.5 rating if I could have. I already knew that Arlington belonged to the Lee's and was confiscated at the beginning of the Civil War, but did not know that it was granted back to the Lee family and then sold to the government. I was disheartened to read the details of the confiscation and the vengeful motives behind it. But, I was encouraged to read of how the cemetery evolved from a convenient place to bury the masses of those killed in the Civil War to a national emblem honoring those who died defending our country. I was overwhelmed to learn of the scope of the cemetery and the number buried there. It was a beneficial eye-opener for me which helped me to appreciate the care, respect and honor given to those who have paid the supreme sacrifice for our country. If I were a history teacher this certainly would be a classroom source book!
June 11, 2015
This is a well researched, very thorough and interesting book about the history of Arlington National Cemetery, which was created at the end of the Civil War. It tells about how the cemetery came to be, and about the many time honored traditions, including Memorial Day and the rituals for military funerals, that originated from Arlington. The author also talks about many of the personal stories of those buried there, from the Unknown Soldiers to famous generals, to the thousands of enlisted men from the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, two world wars, wars in Korea and Vietnam, to those who have lost their lives in the current war against terrorism.
I had already known before reading this that Arlington was the former plantation of Robert E. Lee, but I never knew the full story behind it, of how it came to be a military cemetery. I was surprised to learn that at the beginning, it wasn't considered to be the prestigious burial site that it is today; it actually began more like a "potters field", when the Union was desperate for a place to bury the increasing numbers of those dead from battles or the various sicknesses that spread through the camps, and they were quickly running out of space in the local cemeteries. It wasn't until years after the Civil War that changes began to be made to make it the sacred and honored place that it is today.
This was a very fascinating read, even though the first few chapters felt a little too bogged down at times with Civil War history; I felt that section of the book could have been condensed a bit without losing the essence of what the book was about. The most interesting chapters to me were the ones about JFK's funeral, the years of the Vietnam war, and the events of September 11, 2001.
I had already known before reading this that Arlington was the former plantation of Robert E. Lee, but I never knew the full story behind it, of how it came to be a military cemetery. I was surprised to learn that at the beginning, it wasn't considered to be the prestigious burial site that it is today; it actually began more like a "potters field", when the Union was desperate for a place to bury the increasing numbers of those dead from battles or the various sicknesses that spread through the camps, and they were quickly running out of space in the local cemeteries. It wasn't until years after the Civil War that changes began to be made to make it the sacred and honored place that it is today.
This was a very fascinating read, even though the first few chapters felt a little too bogged down at times with Civil War history; I felt that section of the book could have been condensed a bit without losing the essence of what the book was about. The most interesting chapters to me were the ones about JFK's funeral, the years of the Vietnam war, and the events of September 11, 2001.
September 14, 2022
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." For giving the ultimate sacrifice. (First Chapter of Joshua Old Testament)
On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery is an in-depth look at the history of our nation's most storied cemetery. From its inception during the Civil War era to our soldiers returning home from the latest conflicts, Robert Poole takes you inside the plans and designs of Arlington. Who would have thought the history of a cemetery would be so fascinating?
This fascinating historical story of its start as a part of Gen. R.E. Lee's plantation as a makeshift burial site for Union casualties to the place it is today was a marvelous history lesson that opened my eyes to a whole new page in Civil War history and forward. Along the way he discusses the evolution of the cemetery during each of our Nation's conflicts including the War of 1812, WWI and WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and our current clashes in Afghanistan and Iraq. Conspicuously missing from his history is Desert Storm. The mystery of the cemetery, its size, its look, how it operates, and the meaning of many of its icons have now been explained. I learned a lot of new stories here- like Richard McKinley's radioactive grave and the story of Kennedy's casket team practicing carrying a dummy casket with their commander and a Tomb sentinel riding on top for extra weight (Kennedy's casket was an incredible 1300 pounds) up and down the amphitheater steps until 1:00 am the night before his funeral so they would not drop him. Or of the request made by Mrs. Kennedy for an eternal flame on a Sunday and the frantic phone calls to natural gas contractors all over the metro area that went unanswered- because it was a Sunday. The sections on the unknown soldiers were very interesting and the 24-hour guarding of the Tomb of Unknown Soldier is awesome reading.
The author tells the tale of Arlington from a broad national and historical perspective, and also from the small, individual stories of those buried there, both famous and obscure. I highly recommend this book.
On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery is an in-depth look at the history of our nation's most storied cemetery. From its inception during the Civil War era to our soldiers returning home from the latest conflicts, Robert Poole takes you inside the plans and designs of Arlington. Who would have thought the history of a cemetery would be so fascinating?
This fascinating historical story of its start as a part of Gen. R.E. Lee's plantation as a makeshift burial site for Union casualties to the place it is today was a marvelous history lesson that opened my eyes to a whole new page in Civil War history and forward. Along the way he discusses the evolution of the cemetery during each of our Nation's conflicts including the War of 1812, WWI and WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and our current clashes in Afghanistan and Iraq. Conspicuously missing from his history is Desert Storm. The mystery of the cemetery, its size, its look, how it operates, and the meaning of many of its icons have now been explained. I learned a lot of new stories here- like Richard McKinley's radioactive grave and the story of Kennedy's casket team practicing carrying a dummy casket with their commander and a Tomb sentinel riding on top for extra weight (Kennedy's casket was an incredible 1300 pounds) up and down the amphitheater steps until 1:00 am the night before his funeral so they would not drop him. Or of the request made by Mrs. Kennedy for an eternal flame on a Sunday and the frantic phone calls to natural gas contractors all over the metro area that went unanswered- because it was a Sunday. The sections on the unknown soldiers were very interesting and the 24-hour guarding of the Tomb of Unknown Soldier is awesome reading.
The author tells the tale of Arlington from a broad national and historical perspective, and also from the small, individual stories of those buried there, both famous and obscure. I highly recommend this book.
April 23, 2024
Very informative and interesting. Would make an excellent required reading for US History classes.
July 2, 2024
I loved this book. I learned so many things and heard many, many beautiful stories.
I’m excited to visit Arlington in a few days and see some of the tombs that I read about.
I’m excited to visit Arlington in a few days and see some of the tombs that I read about.
June 7, 2025
On Hallowed Ground is almost a page turner and it is nonfiction! Arlington National Cemetery is the history of the United States thru our wars. Robert. Poole, the author, leaves no stone unturned when telling the ANC story. If you are interested in our history and the nuances of Arlington cemetery, this is the book to read.
February 7, 2010
This is a fascinating history on a lot of levels, much more so than I expected – the use of the Arlington estate as a cemetery began during America’s devastating Civil War, and has remained an evolving presence right through to the present day, acting as a layered stratum of historic significance. Poole’s book, accordingly, is a guide to US military history, US political history, the geography and architecture of the state, and Washington DC, as well as being a moving tribute to the soldiers who rest in Arlington; all neatly tied in with how the 600+ acres were shaped by America’s history and war-time engagements. Within the broad sweep of history, Poole takes a closer look at some of the stories of those resting there, and some of the events – other than wars – that have added to its ranks of stones.
What I liked most about this book was Poole’s ability to describe the notions of duty, patriotism and heroism; America has risen on a tide of ideals and symbolism, and Poole injects his history with acknowledgement that Arlington, perhaps more than anywhere else, is infused with these things; he does this without ignoring or glossing over the more dubious history, the internal politicking that often went hand-in-hand with public opinion concerning America’s war dead. His prose is, fittingly, both practical and elegant, and I found I had finished the book long before I was tired of reading about the cemetery and its interred military servicemen.
What I liked most about this book was Poole’s ability to describe the notions of duty, patriotism and heroism; America has risen on a tide of ideals and symbolism, and Poole injects his history with acknowledgement that Arlington, perhaps more than anywhere else, is infused with these things; he does this without ignoring or glossing over the more dubious history, the internal politicking that often went hand-in-hand with public opinion concerning America’s war dead. His prose is, fittingly, both practical and elegant, and I found I had finished the book long before I was tired of reading about the cemetery and its interred military servicemen.
December 21, 2010
In On Hollowed Ground, Robert M. Poole tells the spell-binding history of the Arlington National Cemetery with detail and sobriety that is fitting for the final resting place of many heroes of our nation. He begins at the outset of the Civil War, chronicling how Arlington was taken from the family of Robert E. Lee (this error was later righted) and made into a burial ground for soldiers. Poole takes us on a journey through each successive war of the United States, telling how Arlington evolved with each conflict into the "hallowed ground" it is today.
On Hallowed Ground tells not only the history of the land itself, but also the history of many of the monuments and traditions of the cemetery. From the 1,200-pound gun marking an artillery officer's grave to the Tombs of the Unknown Soldiers to the Eternal Flame, each story is told with reverence and great detail. Especially moving were the narratives of each Unknown Soldier's journey to his final resting place. With each story, it is the lives of the people involved that make this book so captivating. The interviews with members of the Old Guard hearing them tell of the honor of being a part of Arlington's on-going history are stirring.
Poole has taken what could have been a dry retelling of a graveyard's history, and has written instead an intimate account of a cherished resting place for many men and women. This book is a must read, especially for students of American history.
On Hallowed Ground tells not only the history of the land itself, but also the history of many of the monuments and traditions of the cemetery. From the 1,200-pound gun marking an artillery officer's grave to the Tombs of the Unknown Soldiers to the Eternal Flame, each story is told with reverence and great detail. Especially moving were the narratives of each Unknown Soldier's journey to his final resting place. With each story, it is the lives of the people involved that make this book so captivating. The interviews with members of the Old Guard hearing them tell of the honor of being a part of Arlington's on-going history are stirring.
Poole has taken what could have been a dry retelling of a graveyard's history, and has written instead an intimate account of a cherished resting place for many men and women. This book is a must read, especially for students of American history.
July 15, 2012
I've been to Arlington twice. However, I learned more, and in a more interesting way from this book. The book shares small personal stories about men whom eventually were buried at Arlington. It starts with the Civil War and the difficult decision General Lee made joining the Rebel forces. It back tracks to include a few Revolutionary war vets and continues to today. It includes rituals in the burials and how they started. It includes the story of the Taps and how it came to be. It also shares the story of how the dog tags came to be. Small stories include how Washington DC was architecturally designed and that fellow is buried in Arlington along with slaves from the original plantation. Few American Presidents are buried there, but many "Unknown Soldier" body parts are in lots of graves. Who knew that JFK was buried twice? How about the fact that the Vietnam Unknown soldier is known and therefore, now empty?
Arlington belonged to the Lee family since the year 1641 and it included 1,100 acres. Arlington now belongs to the national government, and the national parks service consisting of 660 acres. Had the Pentagon been built on Arlington land as Eisenhower agreed to originally there would be less today.
I'm not going to DC this fall with my fifth grader, but for all those who are you should read this book. Very fascinating.
I didn't give it a 5 star rating because there wasn't any sex, drugs, or rock-n-roll.
Arlington belonged to the Lee family since the year 1641 and it included 1,100 acres. Arlington now belongs to the national government, and the national parks service consisting of 660 acres. Had the Pentagon been built on Arlington land as Eisenhower agreed to originally there would be less today.
I'm not going to DC this fall with my fifth grader, but for all those who are you should read this book. Very fascinating.
I didn't give it a 5 star rating because there wasn't any sex, drugs, or rock-n-roll.
March 8, 2016
I'm not going to say this was the best book I ever read, but it's certainly top three non-fiction. I can think of only two others that are even close. This was just that good!
I bought this in 2014 and I actually don't recall the circumstances that drew me to it as it was long enough after my trip to Arlington that I don't think it was spurred by seeing it in the Arlington gift shops, although that certainly endorsed it in my view. It is compulsively readable-almost like a novel in that I grew attached to Meigs, Lee and his family, Black Jack (the man & the horse), Fighting Joe and the others.
At the same time, Poole interspersed the basic knowledge of the Civil War (Lee's refusal to draw his sword against a fellow Virginian) with the history of the United States that led to the Arlington that we know and visit today. Among my personal favorite pieces of information, which I'll mark as spoilers in case:
-the healing role that the Spanish American War played after the civil war. I especially want to read more about Fighting Joe and his role. I think it's a story lost among the heroics of Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders.
-Black Jack Pershing and his Buffalo Soldiers
-the detail on the state funerals; whether they were something obvious like the Kennedy assassination or the return of the WW1/WW2/Vietnam Unkowns.
More TK on my blog, but an amazing read for anyone interested in the Civil War, Arlington or US military history.
I bought this in 2014 and I actually don't recall the circumstances that drew me to it as it was long enough after my trip to Arlington that I don't think it was spurred by seeing it in the Arlington gift shops, although that certainly endorsed it in my view. It is compulsively readable-almost like a novel in that I grew attached to Meigs, Lee and his family, Black Jack (the man & the horse), Fighting Joe and the others.
At the same time, Poole interspersed the basic knowledge of the Civil War (Lee's refusal to draw his sword against a fellow Virginian) with the history of the United States that led to the Arlington that we know and visit today. Among my personal favorite pieces of information, which I'll mark as spoilers in case:
-the healing role that the Spanish American War played after the civil war. I especially want to read more about Fighting Joe and his role. I think it's a story lost among the heroics of Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders.
-Black Jack Pershing and his Buffalo Soldiers
-the detail on the state funerals; whether they were something obvious like the Kennedy assassination or the return of the WW1/WW2/Vietnam Unkowns.
More TK on my blog, but an amazing read for anyone interested in the Civil War, Arlington or US military history.
April 1, 2014
This interesting, well-researched book tells the story of how Arlington National Cemetery came to be, beginning with the fascinating story of Robert E Lee and his wife Mary Custiss Lee who was a grand daughter of Martha Washington. When Lee left the Union to stay loyal to Virginia, his home and grounds (and slaves) were taken over by the Union Army. Later, in a move to keep the Lees from ever returning, Union soldiers were buried very close to the house. Eventually the Lees lost the home because taxes had to be paid in person, a feat neither General Lee nor his wife could accomplish due to the war. Eventually the Supreme Court ruled in favor of their son, who petitioned to have his home returned to him. By then all he really needed was the money, so once the property was once again his, he sold it to the government for $150,000 (nearly 20 years after the end of the Civil War). The book is nicely written, with so many interesting stories of people buried there and how traditions over time changed. The most riveting stories are about the Unknowns and how we came to honor them in the way we do today and how the Vietnam Unknown was disinterred and identified., leaving no Unknown Soldier from that War. Modern methods of identification make it so much easier to identify remains. Really a splendid book!
November 10, 2015
Great history ends here. In war after war, the stories of valiant American soldiers are ultimately buried with their bodies at Arlington National Cemetery. And some of their stories, along with the tale of how Arlington came to be a burial ground, is captured here in Robert M. Poole's terrific work of non-fiction, On Hallowed Ground.
I have to admit, I knew very little about Arlington, except that it is a place where our war dead are buried and where it is located. The story of how this land was stolen from Confederate General Robert E. Lee was a fascinating one. But even more poignant, was the change wrought by the U.S. Civil War, that necessitated a large national cemetery, and a method of retrieving and honoring fallen soldiers.
The history of our military tradition is frought with politics and science, and Poole does an excellent job of portraying the challenges and successes through the 21st century. Wonderful book!
I have to admit, I knew very little about Arlington, except that it is a place where our war dead are buried and where it is located. The story of how this land was stolen from Confederate General Robert E. Lee was a fascinating one. But even more poignant, was the change wrought by the U.S. Civil War, that necessitated a large national cemetery, and a method of retrieving and honoring fallen soldiers.
The history of our military tradition is frought with politics and science, and Poole does an excellent job of portraying the challenges and successes through the 21st century. Wonderful book!
March 27, 2015
If you enjoy history, and appreciate what are armed forces do to protect us, you will enjoy this book. The reading was slow going in the beginning. Lot's of tedious details...but if you can get through the beginning chapters, there are so many interesting facts to learn about the creation of Arlington. Once the book got into more recent history, it was hard to put down. On Sept. 11, 2001, when a plane flew into the Pentagon, the workers at Arlington were eyewitnesses. Plenty of stories about things I remember in my lifetime, Vietnam War, JFK's assassination, personally witnessing the soldiers standing guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on a trip to D.C., ect. National Cemeteries are so moving to visit. I always question the need for war when looking out at thousands of tombstones. So sad. But...these are places of honor, and I was moved by visiting a local National Cemetery to have a memorial tombstone placed there in memory of my dad who was a Korean War Veteran.
July 7, 2013
My copy of the book had 352 pages with the index starting at page 287. This was one of the most interesting books I have ever read. I was blown away by the fact that Arlington was originally owned by General Robert E Lee, and how the cemetery came to be. (The Union Army Quartermaster needed somewhere to bury soldiers, after running out of room with in Washington DC, and also he basically wanted to "stick it to" General Lee by burying Union dead in Lee's backyard.) The chapter on why JFK was buried here, as well as the story of the Tomb of the Unknown involving the remains from Vietnam were really incredible. Incredibly well researched and well organized. I did find it a little difficult to get through certain spots just because it had so many facts, dates, names, etc. Highly recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2014
A very well written history of the Arlington National Cemetery. It starts with the Lee family living there and goes all the way to September 11th. There's enough detail to paint a beautiful picture without being so bogged down in history as to become the type of documentary I fall asleep during. It was especially poignant to read around Memorial Day. I want to visit again and view some of the places/graves that I can now see differently in the context of history.
December 16, 2015
I liked the book, but I would not recommend it unless you are particularly interested in the history of Arlington National Cemetery. Not exactly a page turner. I happen to be interested since I have been there several times, and a couple of my uncles and my parents are buried there.
February 25, 2015
That was one of the best books I've ever read. That is all.
August 8, 2020
Excellent book. Well written story of Arlington National Cemetery and everything about it.
May 5, 2014
A fabulous piece of history relating to the Civil War, the development of Arlington National Cemetery and the stories surrounding this time period!
Some keys dates and pieces of information:
May 24, 1861 - Some 14,000 Federal troops cross the river to Virginia, taking control of Alexandria, bridge crossings, and the Lees' Arlington estate.
July 17, 1862 - War deaths mount at an unexpected rate, leaving the government poorly prepared to bury its fighting men. Congress crates a national cemetery system to accommodate "the soldiers who shall die in the service of the country". New cemeteries are established in Alexandria and the District of Columbia.
May 4, 1864 - Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, determined to end the war, crosses the Rapidan River of Virginia to face Robert E. Lee in forty days of almost continuous fighting. Their bloody exchange creates more than 80,000 casualties. When cemeteries in the capital run out of space, the Union quartermaster. Brig. Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs, begins unofficially burying war casualties on Lee's Arlington estate.
May 13, 1864 -- Pvt. William Henry Christman of the 67th Pennsylvania Infantry is the first soldier buried at Arlington, on the edge of the property near a small cemeter for slaves. With cemeteries overflowing and deaths mounting, Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, asks Meigs to recommend new national burial sites.
June 15, 1864 - Meigs proposes that 200 acreas at Arlington should be taken for a national military cemetery. Stanton approves and Meigs orders burials around Lee's mansion to prevent the family's return to Arlington.
1868 - General John Logan, Commander in Chief of the GAR, designates May 30, 1868, as "Decoration Day" to honor the Union war dead. It is, in effect, the first Memorial Day.
1873 - Congress approves a free white marble marker for each service member buried at Arlington.
1888 - Congress declares Memorial Day a national holiday.
Meigs passed away in January 1892. With Meigs death, the old order shifted. Lee and Grant were long gone. So was Jefferson Davis and Gen. John A. Logan, father of Memorial Day. Gone too were the generals whose names recalled the bloody work of Manassas, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and other battles: Hood, Thomas, Hooker, Jackson, McClellan, Stuart, Sheridan, Burnside, and Meade. Even William T. Sherman had joined the silent ranks by February 1891, barely a year ahead of Meigs. One of Sherman's pallbearers that winter was Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, 84, who had stood barheaded in the cold at Sherman's funeral in St. Louis out of respect for his old adversary. "If I were in his place and he standing here in mine," Johnston said, "he would not put on his hat." Johnston caught cold and died in short order. Such displays of magnanimity helped soften hard feelings between North and South. But, as the historian Edmund Morris has observed, it took a new war (Spanish-American War) to heal scars from the old one.
1892 - The first Revolutionary War casualties are brought to Arlington national Cemetery, signaaling a change in status for Arlington, it is becoming an important symbol for the nation.
1897 - The cemetery annexes 56 acres, bringing Arlington's total to almost 400.
This book begins with the Civil War and stories of casualties from that war (620,000 lives on both sides). It then moves on to the casualties from USS Maine in Havana Harbor in February 1898. From here, we move on to other casualties from the brief time period known as the Spanish-American War.
1903 - Arlington is up to 300 funerals a year. Burials total 19,000.
January 16, 1932 - Memorial Bridge, connecting the Lincoln Memorial with Arlington National Cemetery, is dedicated by President Herbert Hoover. The bridge, intended to link North and South symbolically, also unifies the city's landscape design.
Long before the US entered WWII, preliminary skirmishing began at Arlington, where war planners mounted a campaign to occupy part of the old plantation. The year was 1941, the battleground a 400 acre parcel curling around the national cemetery on bottomlands by the Potomac River. Lying just southwest of Memorial Bridge, this stretch of ground had been worked by Lee family slaves before the Civil War, occupied by freedmen during and after that conflict, and transferred to the Department of Agriculture when the last of the freedmen were driven from Arlington in 1900. Since that time, scientists and researchers had used the Government Experimental Farm, commonly known as Arlington Farm, for growing plants introduced from abroad and for improving other plants. By the 1930's, when farm operations were moved to suburban Maryland, it set off a scramble for possession of this vacant quarter of Arlington. One of the groups that wanted this piece of property was the War Department. They were looking for office space. Can you guess what went on this piece of property? Check out this book to learn more!
July 15, 1948 - Gen. John J. Pershing passed away. Forgotten in life, he was remembered in death as few others are. Thousands of mourners, including President Truman and General Marshall, filed by his casket in the Capitol Rotunda, where the old general lay in state for 24 hours. Both Truman and Marshall had served under him, both had reverd him, both marked his passing, as did some 300,000 ordinary citizens who crowded the sidewalks to watch Black Jack's caisson make its slow, stately progress to Arlington on July 19th. The skies opened and the rains came down; the wet streets fell utterly, eerily silent, a sign of respect for the man crossing the brown Potomac on his last journey. Dutifully sloshing behind Pershing's caisson, two soldiers who had served under him debated whether to seek cover or get soaked that day. "Brad, what do you think?" Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower asked Gen. Omar N. Bradley, as they marched along. "For Black Jack Pershing I think it would be proper if we walked in the rain," said Bradley.
"Here let me rest among the World War veterans. When the last bugle call is sounded, I want to stand up with my solders." -- Gen. John J. Pershing
"I could stay here forever" stated President John F. Kennedy on a visit to Arlington National Cemetery on March 3, 1963. Eight months later, on November 23, 1963, President Kennedy la dead in the White House while his family, fiends, and aides made hurried plans for a state funeral - the first since President Eisenhower had officiated at Arlington ceremonies for the Unknowns of WWII and Korea in 1958.
At the time of Kennedy's funeral, about 4,000 people were buried at Arlington each year; afterward, demands for interment jumped to 7,000 annually. Like the burials of Gen. Meigs and distinguished Civil War officers in the previous century, Kennedy's widely watched funeral made Arlington a prestigious venue for final honors. The sudden increase in burial requests meant that Arlington would be full by 1988, with no space for new interments unless the cemetery tightened burial restrictions. After 1966, therefore, new interments were limited to those who died on active duty, retired with a disability or 20 years of service, or won high military honors -- rules that still apply today. The cemetery proceeded to develop 200 acres of land from South Post of Fort Myer, which would provide space for new burials well into the 21st century. Kennedy's funeral prompted these changes. it was a milestone, one of the most significant events in our history.
1970 - Arlington is closed to car and truck traffic.
1981 Omar N. Bradley, last of WWII's five-star generals, is buried at Arlington.
May 28, 1984 - The Unknown serviceman from the Vietnam conflict is buried.
1998 - The Tomb of the Unknown from Vietnam is opened and the remains examined. DNA testing identifies Lt. Michael Blassie, an Air Force officer missing since being shot down over Vietnam on May 11, 1972.
Due to advanced DNA testing, this will probably be the last "unknown" soldier.
1995 - Cpl. Heather Johnson becomes the first female sentinel to guard the Tomb of the Unknowns.
September 11, 2001 - On the same day terrorists strike the World Trade Center in New York, hijackers crash American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon, killing 189 people. Sixty-four, most of them uniformed service members killed in the attack, are buried in Lot 64 at Arlington, near the crash site. The story of Army Lt. Col Kip Paul Taylor is heartwrenching. Check out this book to see why.
Before January 1, 2009, enlisted men "received" only standard honors (a casket team, a folded flag, a firing party, and a bugler). Sfc. Robert A. Durbin argued that "Honors rendered should be rendered fairly, based on actions, not rank. This is flat out disgraceful." This set off a controversy that would simmer for months. Durbin's plea on behalf of enlisted soldiers took more than a year to gain traction. After a blizzard of letters and emails to the president, senators, news outlets, veterans' groups, and military brass, Durbin's appeals finaly reached the office of Pete Geren, secretary of the Army, who bought the sergeant's argument. Geren issued new regulations granting full-honors funerals for enlisted soldiers killed in action. His directive, announced on December 12, 2008 took effect on January 1, 2009. Full military honors include those listed above under standard honors plus a military band, a marching platoon, a color-bearer, and a caisson.
The final chapter in this book is called appropriately enough "Taps". Here, you'll find the story of the Tomb Guards; the lonely sentinel who marches slowly back and forth in the moonlight, keeping vigil at the Tomb of the Unknowns as Army guards have done since round-the-clock watches began in 1937.
They talk about tradition, this one steeped in symbolism. "You hit your marks, you make your turns, you try for perfection -- even if it's three in the morning. You don't want to do anything to disgrace the Unknowns." Who would know? He would know (meaning the Unknown).
With the ravages of age and with new conflicts adding 5,000-6,000 new graves to Arlington each year, would the cemetery run out of space? We'll have room for another 50 years, said John C. Metzler Jr., the cemetery superintendent, who has overseen what is likely the last expansion of Arlington. Slated to take effect over the next decade, the extension will add more than 70 acres to the cemetery, bringing the total to approximately 680 acres, space enough for burials and inurnments into 2060.
At the end of this book is a Timeline for the history of Arlington National Cemetery
Appendix II provides the reader with Regulations for Burial
A superb book. The things that I noted are only a few of the stories that surround the history of this place.
Some keys dates and pieces of information:
May 24, 1861 - Some 14,000 Federal troops cross the river to Virginia, taking control of Alexandria, bridge crossings, and the Lees' Arlington estate.
July 17, 1862 - War deaths mount at an unexpected rate, leaving the government poorly prepared to bury its fighting men. Congress crates a national cemetery system to accommodate "the soldiers who shall die in the service of the country". New cemeteries are established in Alexandria and the District of Columbia.
May 4, 1864 - Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, determined to end the war, crosses the Rapidan River of Virginia to face Robert E. Lee in forty days of almost continuous fighting. Their bloody exchange creates more than 80,000 casualties. When cemeteries in the capital run out of space, the Union quartermaster. Brig. Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs, begins unofficially burying war casualties on Lee's Arlington estate.
May 13, 1864 -- Pvt. William Henry Christman of the 67th Pennsylvania Infantry is the first soldier buried at Arlington, on the edge of the property near a small cemeter for slaves. With cemeteries overflowing and deaths mounting, Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, asks Meigs to recommend new national burial sites.
June 15, 1864 - Meigs proposes that 200 acreas at Arlington should be taken for a national military cemetery. Stanton approves and Meigs orders burials around Lee's mansion to prevent the family's return to Arlington.
1868 - General John Logan, Commander in Chief of the GAR, designates May 30, 1868, as "Decoration Day" to honor the Union war dead. It is, in effect, the first Memorial Day.
1873 - Congress approves a free white marble marker for each service member buried at Arlington.
1888 - Congress declares Memorial Day a national holiday.
Meigs passed away in January 1892. With Meigs death, the old order shifted. Lee and Grant were long gone. So was Jefferson Davis and Gen. John A. Logan, father of Memorial Day. Gone too were the generals whose names recalled the bloody work of Manassas, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and other battles: Hood, Thomas, Hooker, Jackson, McClellan, Stuart, Sheridan, Burnside, and Meade. Even William T. Sherman had joined the silent ranks by February 1891, barely a year ahead of Meigs. One of Sherman's pallbearers that winter was Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, 84, who had stood barheaded in the cold at Sherman's funeral in St. Louis out of respect for his old adversary. "If I were in his place and he standing here in mine," Johnston said, "he would not put on his hat." Johnston caught cold and died in short order. Such displays of magnanimity helped soften hard feelings between North and South. But, as the historian Edmund Morris has observed, it took a new war (Spanish-American War) to heal scars from the old one.
1892 - The first Revolutionary War casualties are brought to Arlington national Cemetery, signaaling a change in status for Arlington, it is becoming an important symbol for the nation.
1897 - The cemetery annexes 56 acres, bringing Arlington's total to almost 400.
This book begins with the Civil War and stories of casualties from that war (620,000 lives on both sides). It then moves on to the casualties from USS Maine in Havana Harbor in February 1898. From here, we move on to other casualties from the brief time period known as the Spanish-American War.
1903 - Arlington is up to 300 funerals a year. Burials total 19,000.
January 16, 1932 - Memorial Bridge, connecting the Lincoln Memorial with Arlington National Cemetery, is dedicated by President Herbert Hoover. The bridge, intended to link North and South symbolically, also unifies the city's landscape design.
Long before the US entered WWII, preliminary skirmishing began at Arlington, where war planners mounted a campaign to occupy part of the old plantation. The year was 1941, the battleground a 400 acre parcel curling around the national cemetery on bottomlands by the Potomac River. Lying just southwest of Memorial Bridge, this stretch of ground had been worked by Lee family slaves before the Civil War, occupied by freedmen during and after that conflict, and transferred to the Department of Agriculture when the last of the freedmen were driven from Arlington in 1900. Since that time, scientists and researchers had used the Government Experimental Farm, commonly known as Arlington Farm, for growing plants introduced from abroad and for improving other plants. By the 1930's, when farm operations were moved to suburban Maryland, it set off a scramble for possession of this vacant quarter of Arlington. One of the groups that wanted this piece of property was the War Department. They were looking for office space. Can you guess what went on this piece of property? Check out this book to learn more!
July 15, 1948 - Gen. John J. Pershing passed away. Forgotten in life, he was remembered in death as few others are. Thousands of mourners, including President Truman and General Marshall, filed by his casket in the Capitol Rotunda, where the old general lay in state for 24 hours. Both Truman and Marshall had served under him, both had reverd him, both marked his passing, as did some 300,000 ordinary citizens who crowded the sidewalks to watch Black Jack's caisson make its slow, stately progress to Arlington on July 19th. The skies opened and the rains came down; the wet streets fell utterly, eerily silent, a sign of respect for the man crossing the brown Potomac on his last journey. Dutifully sloshing behind Pershing's caisson, two soldiers who had served under him debated whether to seek cover or get soaked that day. "Brad, what do you think?" Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower asked Gen. Omar N. Bradley, as they marched along. "For Black Jack Pershing I think it would be proper if we walked in the rain," said Bradley.
"Here let me rest among the World War veterans. When the last bugle call is sounded, I want to stand up with my solders." -- Gen. John J. Pershing
"I could stay here forever" stated President John F. Kennedy on a visit to Arlington National Cemetery on March 3, 1963. Eight months later, on November 23, 1963, President Kennedy la dead in the White House while his family, fiends, and aides made hurried plans for a state funeral - the first since President Eisenhower had officiated at Arlington ceremonies for the Unknowns of WWII and Korea in 1958.
At the time of Kennedy's funeral, about 4,000 people were buried at Arlington each year; afterward, demands for interment jumped to 7,000 annually. Like the burials of Gen. Meigs and distinguished Civil War officers in the previous century, Kennedy's widely watched funeral made Arlington a prestigious venue for final honors. The sudden increase in burial requests meant that Arlington would be full by 1988, with no space for new interments unless the cemetery tightened burial restrictions. After 1966, therefore, new interments were limited to those who died on active duty, retired with a disability or 20 years of service, or won high military honors -- rules that still apply today. The cemetery proceeded to develop 200 acres of land from South Post of Fort Myer, which would provide space for new burials well into the 21st century. Kennedy's funeral prompted these changes. it was a milestone, one of the most significant events in our history.
1970 - Arlington is closed to car and truck traffic.
1981 Omar N. Bradley, last of WWII's five-star generals, is buried at Arlington.
May 28, 1984 - The Unknown serviceman from the Vietnam conflict is buried.
1998 - The Tomb of the Unknown from Vietnam is opened and the remains examined. DNA testing identifies Lt. Michael Blassie, an Air Force officer missing since being shot down over Vietnam on May 11, 1972.
Due to advanced DNA testing, this will probably be the last "unknown" soldier.
1995 - Cpl. Heather Johnson becomes the first female sentinel to guard the Tomb of the Unknowns.
September 11, 2001 - On the same day terrorists strike the World Trade Center in New York, hijackers crash American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon, killing 189 people. Sixty-four, most of them uniformed service members killed in the attack, are buried in Lot 64 at Arlington, near the crash site. The story of Army Lt. Col Kip Paul Taylor is heartwrenching. Check out this book to see why.
Before January 1, 2009, enlisted men "received" only standard honors (a casket team, a folded flag, a firing party, and a bugler). Sfc. Robert A. Durbin argued that "Honors rendered should be rendered fairly, based on actions, not rank. This is flat out disgraceful." This set off a controversy that would simmer for months. Durbin's plea on behalf of enlisted soldiers took more than a year to gain traction. After a blizzard of letters and emails to the president, senators, news outlets, veterans' groups, and military brass, Durbin's appeals finaly reached the office of Pete Geren, secretary of the Army, who bought the sergeant's argument. Geren issued new regulations granting full-honors funerals for enlisted soldiers killed in action. His directive, announced on December 12, 2008 took effect on January 1, 2009. Full military honors include those listed above under standard honors plus a military band, a marching platoon, a color-bearer, and a caisson.
The final chapter in this book is called appropriately enough "Taps". Here, you'll find the story of the Tomb Guards; the lonely sentinel who marches slowly back and forth in the moonlight, keeping vigil at the Tomb of the Unknowns as Army guards have done since round-the-clock watches began in 1937.
They talk about tradition, this one steeped in symbolism. "You hit your marks, you make your turns, you try for perfection -- even if it's three in the morning. You don't want to do anything to disgrace the Unknowns." Who would know? He would know (meaning the Unknown).
With the ravages of age and with new conflicts adding 5,000-6,000 new graves to Arlington each year, would the cemetery run out of space? We'll have room for another 50 years, said John C. Metzler Jr., the cemetery superintendent, who has overseen what is likely the last expansion of Arlington. Slated to take effect over the next decade, the extension will add more than 70 acres to the cemetery, bringing the total to approximately 680 acres, space enough for burials and inurnments into 2060.
At the end of this book is a Timeline for the history of Arlington National Cemetery
Appendix II provides the reader with Regulations for Burial
A superb book. The things that I noted are only a few of the stories that surround the history of this place.
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