Arlington National Cemetery: Shrine to America's Heroes

During a recent business trip to Washington I took an afternoon off to visit Arlington National Cemetery and pay my respects to a cousin buried there, B/Gen. Robert Lee Scott. Of my father's generation, he fought in World War II as commander of the Flying Tigers and came home to write the best-selling book, God is My Co-Pilot. It was a beautiful Fall day and I enjoyed spending the afternoon there using this book with its map as a guide through the Cemetery. One cannot help but be deeply moved and think about the ultimate sacrifice that brought so many of these young men and women home from battles all over the world for the last time. This guide was very helpful as I walked from one section to the next, finding the resting place of one particular general, or politician or other notable after another and reflecting on life and circumstances that brought them here. Peters' book is ideal for those interested in learning more about many of America's best and bravest buried there. Men and women whose graves go back nearly 150-years along the rolling hills and beautiful overlooks to the Pentagon and the City of Washington -- 657 acres of resting places for people with real lives and stories to tell. No book could possibly tell the story of more than a few hundred of the 300,000-plus honored souls there, but Peters' 334-page book does a wonderful job of providing one-to-three page biographical sketches of many of the most notable. For example, after providing a history of the establishment and growth of the Cemetery, among the first dozen or so profiled are: the Apollo One Astronauts; Gen. "Hap" Arnold; Justices Hugo Black, Warren E. Burger, William J. Brennan and Harry Blackmun; "Pappy" Boyington; Gen. Omar Bradley; polar explorer Richard E. Byrd; Claire Lee Chennault; and Gen. Jimmy Doolittle. Names typically recognized by those who are well-read or interested in American history and politics. There is a sincerity to the writing, casual but respectful, with hundreds of photographs of graves and prominent individuals. For better photographs, but more of a coffee table book, readers will want to purchase and read the beautifully produced National Geographic book, "Where Valor Rests: Arlington National Cemetery." But for a guide, Peters' book is light enough for visitors to carry and more thorough and easier to use than another guide I had -- "In Honored Glory: Arlington National Cemetery The Final Post" by Philip Bigler (4th ed.). I highly recommend Peter's book for academic and public library collections, individuals interested in learning more about the cemetery and those buried there, and as a gift book to families with loved ones buried there. R. Neil Scott Middle Tennessee State University

Now in its third newly revised edition, Arlington National Cemetery is a thorough guide to America's shrine upholding the highest respect in memory of the astronauts, actors, writers, and Supreme Court justices among its 300,000 honored dead. Chapters discuss Arlington's history up to the present day, the American patriots and noted heroes buried there, major monuments and memorials including living memorials (a.k.a. tree dedications), and a handy visitor's guide. Appendices and an index round out this superb guide for any traveler seeking to visit and pay his respects to these hallowed burial grounds.

I first found this book in it's first edition in 1994 after a trip to D.C. After picking it up from the library, I really wished that I had it when I was in D.C. I read it from cover to cover and learned so much about Arlington. I picked up the second edition during a visit to ANC in September, 2001. Every grave marker and memorial of renown is mentioned and the history behind the larger monuments is very good. It would be really nice if color pictures accompanied the text. I hope that Mr. Peters continues to update the book every now and then.

This is by far the best text devoted to the history of Arlington national cemetery I've seen. It begins with a detailed hisory of how the Washington-Lee family aquired the property, and the government seizure during the Civil war.. The property was used as a burial ground in part to prevent Robert E. Lee family from returning. The book goes on to list numerous notables now buried there and includes a brief but informative biography of each, most have pictures of the gravesite. Finally the book lists the many memorials inside and around the cemetery and the offical requirements for burial at Arlington.. A Fascinating book, I've read it several times and find something new every time I pick it up. Well worth purchasing for the history buff, or the casual tourist who wants to learn more about our most important national shrine.