Donated in memory of Hester Elerding, 2021. Includes bibliographical references (pages 315-371) and index.
Contents:
Introduction: A nation's heart -- Keeper of the keys -- Freedman's village -- A national cemetery -- Bringing home the dead -- Out of many, one unknown -- For us, the living -- Knowns and unknowns -- Conclusion: Hereafter.
Summary:
An active cemetery that averages thirty interments every weekday, Arlington National Cemetery receives four million visitors each year who come to pay their respects to those who have sacrificed their lives to defend and protect the nation through war and peace. It is a sacred shrine in the popular imagination; hallowed ground that stands not only for those buried within but also for the ideals for which they died and which continue to require honor and respect from all American citizens. As perhaps the most critical site of collective mourning and remembrance in the country, Arlington has become an icon of American patriotism and national identity. Micki McElya delves deeply into the historical past to get beyond the popular narratives and guides to this favorite tourist destination that is so heavily invested with national honor and reverence. In doing so, she gives us a full history of the cemetery as a physical place that has been shaped and transformed by the political and cultural aims and circumstances of succeeding generations.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.