Difference between revisions of "Arlington National Cemetery"
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[[image:arlington_1.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Arlington National Cemetery]] | [[image:arlington_1.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Arlington National Cemetery]] | ||
| − | '''Arlington National Cemetery''' is the final resting place for more than 250,000 | + | '''Arlington National Cemetery''' is the final resting place for more than 250,000 American military servicemen. It is located in the county of [[Arlington]], [[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. |
| − | + | [[File:Arlington1.jpg|thumb|400px]] | |
== History == | == History == | ||
| − | The use of Arlington as a cemetery began during the [[American Civil War]], on land once owned by | + | The use of Arlington as a cemetery began during the [[American Civil War]], on land once owned by Confederate General [[Robert E. Lee]]. Union soldier William Henry Christman was the first serviceman to be interred on May 13, 1864. The 200 acre cemetery was officially designated on June 15, 1864, by Secretary of War [[Edwin M. Stanton]]. By the end of the war there were more than 16,000 soldiers buried. The land was chosen by Montgomery C. Meigs, the quartermaster general of the United States Army. |
==Other Facts== | ==Other Facts== | ||
| − | There are more than 3,800 former slaves buried in the cemetery. Their headstones | + | There are more than 3,800 former slaves buried in the cemetery. Their headstones have the word "Civilian" or "Citizen" on them. |
| − | Two former | + | Two former Presidents are buried in the cemetery: [[William Howard Taft]] and [[John F. Kennedy]]. |
| − | Four former | + | Four former United States Supreme Court Justices are buried in the cemetery: [[William Howard Taft]], [[Earl Warren]], [[Warren Burger]], and [[William Rehnquist]]. |
Boxer [[Joe Louis]] is also buried there. | Boxer [[Joe Louis]] is also buried there. | ||
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[[Category:United States]] | [[Category:United States]] | ||
| + | [[Category:DC]] | ||
Revision as of 01:37, January 3, 2010
Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place for more than 250,000 American military servicemen. It is located in the county of Arlington, 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.
History
The use of Arlington as a cemetery began during the American Civil War, on land once owned by Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Union soldier William Henry Christman was the first serviceman to be interred on May 13, 1864. The 200 acre cemetery was officially designated on June 15, 1864, by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. By the end of the war there were more than 16,000 soldiers buried. The land was chosen by Montgomery C. Meigs, the quartermaster general of the United States Army.
Other Facts
There are more than 3,800 former slaves buried in the cemetery. Their headstones have the word "Civilian" or "Citizen" on them.
Two former Presidents are buried in the cemetery: William Howard Taft and John F. Kennedy.
Four former United States Supreme Court Justices are buried in the cemetery: William Howard Taft, Earl Warren, Warren Burger, and William Rehnquist.
Boxer Joe Louis is also buried there.
See also
Resources
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/index.htm
Rick Atkinson, "The Nation's Cemetery," National Geographic (June 2007): 127-137.