Arlington at 150 — Celebrating America’s Heroes

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Arlington at 150 — Celebrating America’s Heroes.

Since the first military burial on May 13, 1864, Arlington National Cemetery has become the final resting place for more than 400,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and their families. Those who on Sept. 11, 2001, died only a few hundred yards away at the Pentagon are buried here, as are the Challenger astronauts. Fifteen thousand soldiers from the Civil War — Union and Confederate — rest in Section 27 and Section 13, known as the Field of the Dead. Four thousand freed slaves, many identified only as “Citizen,” and two presidents also are buried at Arlington. Section 60 is the final resting place of many service members who died in Iraq and Afghanistan, giving their “last full measure of devotion.”

As the nation celebrates Arlington’s 150th anniversary this Memorial Day, the Military Times takes an in-depth look at the time-honored and revered cemetery, weaving in personal stories of veterans, their families and little-known ceremonies and traditions. The project is rich with photos, videos, including an interview with former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and an interactive map that highlights notable memorials and burial sites at Arlington.

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