Sacred Duty: A Soldier's Tour at Arlington National Cemetery [9780062863157]

Overview

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“A moving, reverent history—a tribute, really—to ‘The Old Guard’ … An ode to excellence and caring in service to the nation. It is an inspiring read for every American.” — ROBERT M. GATES

An extraordinary journey behind the scenes of Arlington National Cemetery, Senator Tom Cotton’s Sacred Duty offers an intimate and inspiring portrait of “The Old Guard,” the revered U.S. Army unit whose mission is to honor our country’s fallen heroes on the most hallowed ground in America.

Cotton was a platoon leader with the storied 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment—The Old Guard—between combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the height of the Iraq Surge, he carried the flag-draped remains of his fallen comrades off of airplanes at Dover Air Force Base, and he laid them to rest in Arlington’s famed Section 60, “the saddest acre in America.” He also performed hundreds of funerals for veterans of the Greatest Generation, as well as the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

The Old Guard has embodied the ideals of honor and sacrifice across our nation’s history. America’s oldest active-duty regiment, dating back to 1784, The Old Guard conducts daily military-honor funerals on the 624 rolling acres of Arlington, where generations of American heroes rest. Its soldiers hold themselves to the standard of perfection in sweltering heat, frigid cold, and driving rain. Every funeral is a no-fail, zero-defect mission, whether honoring a legendary general or a humble private.

In researching and writing the book, Cotton returned to Arlington and shadowed the regiment’s soldiers, from daily funerals to the state funeral of President George H. W. Bush to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, reliving the honor—and the challenges—of duty at the nation’s “most sacred shrine.”

Part history of The Old Guard, part memoir of Cotton’s time at Arlington, part intimate profile of the today’s soldiers, Sacred Duty is an unforgettable testament to the timeless power of service and sacrifice to our nation.

“[Senator Cotton] helps his fellow Americans understand not only the hardships, but also the tremendous rewards of service in our military.” —GENERAL H.R. MCMASTER, former National Security Advisor

This powerful combination of history, memoir, and tribute reveals the untold story of America’s Regiment:

• A Rich History: Follow the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment—America’s oldest active-duty infantry—from its founding in 1784, through the Civil War and the world wars, to its modern-day mission.
• A Sacred Mission: Go behind the scenes at Arlington National Cemetery and Dover Air Force Base to witness the meticulous care and honor afforded to our nation’s fallen heroes.
• The Standard of Perfection: Learn what it takes to serve in The Old Guard, where every military-honor funeral is a no-fail, zero-defect mission performed with profound respect.
• The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: Stand an intimate watch with the Sentinels who guard the Tomb, America’s most sacred shrine, around the clock in a testament to unending vigilance and honor.