Do you know 17 things about Arlington National Cemetery? (Part I)

17 things you don't know about Arlington National Cemetery

This cemetery is not just for those who fought for the freedom of our country. It is also immersed in rich historical treasures.

1. There are nearly 30 funerals every day

More than 400000 active duty soldiers, veterans and their families are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, which covers an area of 624 acres. 27 to 30 funerals are held every day of the week, and 6 to 8 funerals are held on Saturdays. Look at these 14 interesting facts about the Pentagon that you never know.

2. This cemetery used to belong to George Washington's family

George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted son of the first president, originally owned Arlington National Cemetery, which is now the sacred Arlington National Cemetery. He had considered naming the 1100 acre land "Mount Washington" in memory of his beloved grandfather, but finally chose Arlington, the name of the family property of Custis, Virginia. But castis did not forget to respect the legacy of his presidential grandfather. Instead of naming a property after himself, he built the Arlington house in memory of George Washington, which still stands on today's cemetery.

4. A ruling of the Supreme Court almost led to the excavation of thousands of graves

In 1864, the U.S. government bought Arlington estate for $26800 and began to use it for military funerals, because Mary Anna Custis Lee, the daughter of castis, never paid the property tax she owed. But her son, George Washington Custis Lee, is determined to recover the land that should belong to his family after her death. In 1870, Custis Lee took the dispute to court, claiming that the land had been illegally confiscated and that he was the legal owner. In December 1882, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the confiscation of land lacked due process and returned the ownership to castice Lee. In 1883, he sold the land to the government for $150000 so that they could continue to build a sacred resting place for American soldiers killed in action. More than 6000 federal soldiers were buried in the auction. If he does not sell the land back to the government, the court may order the government to dig up the graves and move them elsewhere. (think you're a history buff? Use these 16 history questions to test your knowledge. People will always answer wrong.)

5. A soldier is not the first person to be buried in a cemetery

Before Arlington became a designated national cemetery, it belonged to the castis family. According to records, the first person buried here was Mary Randolph, a cousin of castice's wife and the author of the housekeeping and cooking book housewives of Virginia. Don't miss these famous moments that have never happened in history.

6. A freed slave was the first keeper of the cemetery

In 1861, less than six hours after Virginia seceded from the union, federal forces immediately took over Arlington manor, which was considered the best highland of the war. Unlike Confederate general Robert Lee and his wife Mary castice Lee who fled their homes, manor slave James parks stayed here and helped the army build forts. After digging many first graves for the soldiers in this land, he basically became the first keeper. He lives in Freedman's village, the Arlington area set up by the federal government to help slaves liberated in the emancipation declaration. After more than 60 years of nursing, he died in 1929 at the age of 93. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, although he had never served in the army.

7. Before Arlington became a national cemetery, the first serviceman was buried here

The first soldier has been buried in Arlington for 154 years. On May 13, 1864, private William Henry Christman was buried in a cemetery after serving in the 67th infantry regiment in Pennsylvania for less than two months. He died of measles. However, the Army Department did not officially designate Arlington as a national cemetery until a month later. I lied to your history teacher in the following 18 classes.

8. Nearly 4000 former slaves are buried here

African Americans living in Friedman village were buried in area 27 of the cemetery. Most of their tombstones only read "civilians" or "citizens", not dates and intimacy. But some tombs do have little biographical details, such as Jackson, citizen or power boy.