Sacred Duty

Więcej o książce

An extraordinary journey behind the scenes of Arlington National Cemetery, this book offers an intimate portrait of “The Old Guard,” the revered U.S. Army unit dedicated to honoring fallen heroes on hallowed ground. The author, a former platoon leader with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, recounts his experiences between combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. During the Iraq Surge, he carried the flag-draped remains of comrades at Dover Air Force Base and laid them to rest in Arlington’s Section 60, known as “the saddest acre in America.” He performed hundreds of funerals for veterans from the Greatest Generation, as well as the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The Old Guard, America’s oldest active-duty regiment since 1784, conducts daily military-honor funerals across Arlington’s 624 acres, where generations of heroes rest. Soldiers uphold a standard of perfection in extreme weather, ensuring every funeral is a no-fail mission, whether for a legendary general or a humble private. In researching the book, the author returned to Arlington, shadowing soldiers during daily funerals, the state funeral of President George H. W. Bush, and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, reliving the honor and challenges of duty at the nation’s most sacred shrine. This work is a powerful testament to the enduring values of service and sacrifice.