Jim Peters made many trips to Arlington National Cemetery when he lived in Washington D.C. and he was inspired to write Arlington National Cemetery; Shrine to America’s Heroes. Arlington is a U.S. Cemetery operated by the U.S. Army. It is located just across the Potomac River from Washington D.C. Arlington was established in the Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House which was owned by Mary Curtis Lee and Robert E. Lee. The land was confiscated during the war and used, in part, as a cemetery for the Union dead. After the war , Curtis Lee, heir to the property, successfully sued the government and eventually sold the land back to the government.
Decoration Day was first celebrated on May 30, 1868 due to the efforts of John A. Logan, Grand Army of the Republic, to honor the Union dead. Arlington became the resting place for the military dead from all our wars. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was established after World War I. In 1971 Congress made the last Monday in May Memorial Day. Some 400,000 veterans are buried at Arlington and the cemetery has become a symbol for those many sacrifices. Jim Peter’s book is the top selling book at Arlington.
