Thursday, May 19, 2011

Book Review for Memorial Day

I found a really neat book about Arlington National Cemetery for reading around Memorial Day.  The story talks about George Washington Parke Custis and continues his family story through Robert E. Lee. There is some talk about the Civil War and how that was the beginning of the National Cemetery. There is mention of the memorial to the U.S.S. Maine and how it came to be. Then the story continues with WW 1 and the beginnings of the Tomb of the Unknowns. Also included is the story behind the guarding of the Tomb of the Unknowns. Traditions that are carried on in Arlington are given in easy to understand descriptions. They talk about caparison horses and the most famous caparison horse. They also talk about the Challenger Monument and the one for the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. I loved the mention of the work that goes into getting the cemetery ready for Memorial Day. And the book finishes off with the traditions used in changing of the Guard and burials that take place in Arlington. There are no actual pictures instead the book is full of drawings.
I thought it was a perfect book for my boys ages 8 and 6. Enough information to learn but not too much that it went all over their heads. The book is Arlington The Story of Our Nation's Cemetery.