Arlington National Cemetary is hallowed ground.
Its history is tied to both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War–the Arlington Estate was originally created as a tribute to George Washington by his adopted grandson, and by an odd quirk of fate, Robert E. Lee wound up temporarily possessing the property at the outbreak of the Civil War. The federal government seized it for military purposes, and it became the site of our most prestigious national cemetery.
The Civil War was, by far, the most deadly war in our history, with over half a million American deaths. At the turn of the 20th century, Congress agreed to intern Confederate soldiers at Arlington and allowed the erection of a monument that became known as the “Reconciliation” monument–a celebration of the country coming back together.
After the George Floyd riots, the federal government decided to take down monuments…
