ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY: Shrine to America’s Heroes

A book about America’s most treasured national burial ground

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Now in its newly revised fourth edition, Arlington National Cemetery: Shrine to America’s Heroes has been the nation’s leading guide to our most treasured national shrine for more than 35 years. This comprehensive guidebook vividly chronicles the story of Arlington, from it checkered origin to its present glory. 

Within its pages, you’ll explore every corner of Arlington, retracing the lives of presidents and privates, officers and astronauts, actors, writers, and Supreme Court justices among it 400,000 honored dead. You’ll discover the rich history of more than 40 monuments and memorials that ennoble its hallowed ground, including the Tomb of the Unknowns and the September 11th Memorial.

The most comprehensive guide to this cherished national shrine, including:

  • The history of the Arlington property from George Washington to the present
  • 100 short biographies of well-known and lesser-known people buried at Arlington
  • Brief listings of 250 other notable people buried there
  • Descriptions of 40 monuments, including Tomb of the Unknown and Sept. 11 memorial
  • Guidelines for burial regulations, military honors, headstones, and decorations
  • Guide to tours of the Changing of the Guard, Arlington House and Pres. Kennedy’s grave
  • Appendices listing headstone markings, military rank, medals and decorations, and online resources

A welcomed gift for:

  • Visitors to Arlington National Cemetery
  • Veterans and active military personnel
  • Family members and friends of people buried at Arlington
  • Residents of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area
  • History enthusiasts across the country, particularly military and Civil War history

 An informative guide…that reveals quite a few surprising facts.

The Washington Post

Peters has done a terrific service to both eastern travelers and history buffs with this welcome recounting of the origins and growth of Arlington National Cemetery…An engrossing account…Fascinating appended material.

American Library Association BOOKLIST

“It is more than just a definitive guide, it is a book that makes history entertaining while recounting the fascinating lives of people buried at Arlington.”

Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times