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[[image:arlington_1.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Arlington National Cemetery]]

[[image:arlington_1.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Arlington National Cemetery]]

'''Arlington National Cemetery''', established during the [[American Civil War]], is the final resting place for more than 250,000 American military servicemen. It is located in [[Arlington, Virginia|Arlington]] County, [[Virginia]], not far from [[the Pentagon]] and across the [[Potomac River]] from [[Washington DC]]. It is also the location of the [[Tomb of the Unknown Soldier]], which houses three anonymous service members from [[World War I]], [[World War II]] and the [[Korean War]]. It is a major tourist site near Washington, DC, with approximately 4 million visitors annually.

'''Arlington National Cemetery''', established during the [[American Civil War]], is the final resting place for more than 250,000 American military servicemen. It is located in [[Arlington, Virginia|Arlington]] County, [[Virginia]], not far from [[the Pentagon]] and across the [[Potomac River]] from [[Washington DC]]. The [[Tomb of the Unknowns]], one of the more most-visited sites in the cemetery, is located near the center of the grounds. Arlington is a major tourist site near Washington, DC, with approximately 4 million visitors annually. Guided tours are given daily.

There are specific eligibility requirements that need to be met for interment in the cemetery. Active military, retired military who served active duty and were honorably discharged, recipients of the [[Medal of Honor]], Distinguished Service Cross (Navy Cross or Air Force Cross), Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star and Purple Heart, former [[prisoners of war]] and the president or former president are some of those who are eligible.<ref>[http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/funeral_information/guide.interment.html Establishing eligibility]</ref>

There are specific eligibility requirements that need to be met for interment in the cemetery. Active military, retired military who served active duty and were honorably discharged, recipients of the [[Medal of Honor]], Distinguished Service Cross (Navy Cross or Air Force Cross), Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star and Purple Heart, former [[prisoners of war]] and the president or former president are some of those who are eligible.<ref>[http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/funeral_information/guide.interment.html Establishing eligibility]</ref>

Freedman's Village, reportedly located near the current Memorial Amphitheater, was established on December 4, 1863. Over 1,100 freed slaves lived and farmed there during and after the war.<ref name="history"/> The village, run by the Freedman's Bureau for most of its existence, lasted more than thirty years, providing homes, a school, medical care, a training center and religious services for the former Arlington slaves as well as other freed slaves. The school began with approximately 150 students and had over 900 pupils at the peak, including both children and adults. The training center taught blacksmithing, carpentry, shoe making, tailoring and wheelwrighting. There was a 50-bed hospital named Abbott Hospital in the village, as well as a place that took care of the elderly and infirmed. The villagers were given notice on December 7, 1887 that they had 90 days to move out of the village.<ref>[http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/freedman.htm Freedman's Village]</ref>

Freedman's Village, reportedly located near the current Memorial Amphitheater, was established on December 4, 1863. Over 1,100 freed slaves lived and farmed there during and after the war.<ref name="history"/> The village, run by the Freedman's Bureau for most of its existence, lasted more than thirty years, providing homes, a school, medical care, a training center and religious services for the former Arlington slaves as well as other freed slaves. The school began with approximately 150 students and had over 900 pupils at the peak, including both children and adults. The training center taught blacksmithing, carpentry, shoe making, tailoring and wheelwrighting. There was a 50-bed hospital named Abbott Hospital in the village, as well as a place that took care of the elderly and infirmed. The villagers were given notice on December 7, 1887 that they had 90 days to move out of the village.<ref>[http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/freedman.htm Freedman's Village]</ref>

The Lees never attempted to regain their property after the Civil War; however, their son George Washington Custis Lee filed suit in 1870 in circuit court, claiming the land had been taken illegally and per his grandfather's will, he was the rightful owner. In December 1882, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 that the estate had been confiscated without due process and returned ownership to Custis Lee. Congress purchased it for $150,000 on March 3, 1883, and it became a military reservation.<ref name="history"/>

The Lees never attempted to regain their property after the Civil War; however, their son George Washington Custis Lee filed suit in 1870 in circuit court, claiming the land had been taken illegally, and per his grandfather's will he was the rightful owner. In December 1882, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 that the estate had been confiscated without due process and returned ownership to Custis Lee. Congress purchased it for $150,000 on March 3, 1883, and it became a military reservation.<ref name="history"/>

[[File:Arlington1.jpg|thumb|250px]]

[[File:Arlington1.jpg|thumb|250px]]

==Other Facts==

==The Tomb of the Unknowns==

 

 

==Interments==

*There are more than 3,800 former slaves buried in the cemetery. Their headstones have the word "Civilian" or "Citizen" on them.

*There are more than 3,800 former slaves buried in the cemetery. Their headstones have the word "Civilian" or "Citizen" on them.

*James Parks was a Custis family slave who was born at Arlington in 1843 and freed in 1862 under provisions in George Washington Park Custis's will. He served as a gravedigger and cemetery maintenance man for the U.S. Army from 1861 until his death on August 21, 1929. Secretary of War [[Edwin M. Stanton]] granted special permission for Parks to be buried at Arlington; his gravesite is in Section 15, Grave 2.<ref>[http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/historical_information/james_parks.html Biography of James Parks]</ref>

*James Parks was a Custis family slave who was born at Arlington in 1843 and freed in 1862 under provisions in George Washington Park Custis's will. He served as a gravedigger and cemetery maintenance man for the U.S. Army from 1861 until his death on August 21, 1929. Secretary of War [[Edwin M. Stanton]] granted special permission for Parks to be buried at Arlington; his gravesite is in Section 15, Grave 2.<ref>[http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/historical_information/james_parks.html Biography of James Parks]</ref>

*Two former Presidents are buried in the cemetery: [[William Howard Taft]] and [[John F. Kennedy]].

*Two United States Presidents are buried in the cemetery: [[William Howard Taft]] and [[John F. Kennedy]].  

*Four former United States Supreme Court Chief Justices are buried in the cemetery: [[William Howard Taft]], [[Earl Warren]], [[Warren Burger]], and [[William Rehnquist]]. Eight U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justices are also interred at Arlington: [[Hugo Black]], [[Oliver Wendell Holmes]], [[Potter Stewart]], [[Thurgood Marshall]], [[William O. Douglas]], [[Arthur Goldberg]], [[William Brennan]], and [[Harry A. Blackmun]].

*Four former United States Supreme Court Chief Justices are buried in the cemetery: [[William Howard Taft]], [[Earl Warren]], [[Warren Burger]], and [[William Rehnquist]]. Eight U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justices are also interred at Arlington: [[Hugo Black]], [[Oliver Wendell Holmes]], [[Potter Stewart]], [[Thurgood Marshall]], [[William O. Douglas]], [[Arthur Goldberg]], [[William Brennan]], and [[Harry A. Blackmun]].