“By the dawn of the twentieth century, Arlington had matured into
something more than a Civil War cemetery; it had become a national symbol for
sacrifice and honor, a rallying point for veterans, for ordinary visitors, and
for solemn ceremony” (119).
The Book
On Hallowed Ground: The Story of
Arlington National Cemetery by Robert
M. Poole provides the reader with a history of America’s most famous cemetery. Arlington National
Cemetery was born out of the Civil War
and has been inexplicable linked to each of America’s wars since then. The land
originally belonged to Mary Custis Lee, the wife of Robert E. Lee and
great-granddaughter of Martha Washington. When Robert E. Lee chose to resign
from the Union and lead the Confederate army, Arlington
became a part of the Union’s defense of Washington, DC.
Throughout much of its early history, the cemetery was a bridge, and was
caught, between the struggle between the North and the South.
Arlington began as a 200 acre cemetery
in 1864 and has grown to 624 acres. The white tombstones were put into practice
in 1874 and the Tomb of the Unknown was dedicated on November 11, 1921. The
United States Army Old Guard is tasked with the twenty-four hour guarding of
the Tomb of the Unknown. The best part of On
Hallowed Ground is Poole’s description of the Old Guard and their reverence
for the Unknown Soldiers.
Overall, Poole
does a good job explaining the creation of the cemetery and the people
involved. However, some aspects of Arlington’s
history and traditions are glossed over in deference to other events. For
example, Poole spends an entire chapter on
President Kennedy’s funeral, while only a couple of pages detailing the Old
Guard. This decision plays into the complaints Poole
details from the families who lost ordinary soldiers: more important people
were often given more prominent burial plots and better funerals than the
ordinary soldier.
The Place
Arlington NationalCemetery is located across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial. Tours are
available and they stop at the Tomb of the Unknown, President Kennedy
gravesite, and Arlington House. Visitors can pick up a map at the Visitor Center to find the gravesites of famous
Americans or family members.
The Tomb of the Unknown is humbling
and the viewing of the changing of the guard is a unique experience. As you
stand in the crowd, all you hear is the clicking of the soldier’s heels and you
are struck by the sacrifice of the Unknowns and their families. Across from the
Tomb of the Unknown are several memorials for the USS Maine, the Iran Hostage Rescue Team, and
the Space Shuttles Challenger and Columbia.
At the Arlington House, you have a sweeping view of the Potomac River and Washington, DC.
Just in front of Arlington House lies Pierre Charles L’Enfant. L’Enfant was a
Frenchmen who served in the Revolutionary War and designed the layout for the
new capital city: Washington,
DC. For his devotion to his
adopted country, L’Enfant’s grave has the best view.
A visit to Arlington is not your typical tourist stop;
it is a cemetery and visitors are expected to be reverent and respectful.
