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

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 A New York Times–bestselling behind-the-scenes look at the US Army unit stationed at Arlington National Cemetery. 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 US 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 US 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.Praise for Sacred Duty“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“[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 From U.s. Senator Tom Cotton, An Intimate And Inspiring Portrait Of Arlington National Cemetery's Old Guard, The Official Ceremonial Unit Of The U.s. Army And Americas Oldest Infantry Unit, Dating To 1784: Part History Of The Old Guard, Part Memoir Of Senator Cotton’s Time As A Platoon Leader In The Unit, Part Meditation On Service, Tradition, And Patriotism. It Is The Most Sacred Square Mile In America. A City Of The Dead—more Than 400,000 Inhabitants And Growing With Each Passing Week. On 624 Sloping Acres, Across A River From The Nation’s Capital, Lie Generations Of Heroes In A Place Called Arlington. The Hallowed Grounds Contain Presidents And Privates, Some Of The Most Famous Names In Military And Political History—supreme Court Justices, Five-star Generals, And War Heroes—as Well As Liberated Slaves, And The Bodies Of Soldiers Known Only To God. For Sixteen Months, In Between Combat Tours In Iraq And Afghanistan, Tom Cotton, United States Senator From Arkansas, Served As A Platoon Leader For The 3rd U.s. Infantry Regiment At Arlington. Known As “the Old Guard,” These Soldiers Perform Military-honor Funerals For Our Fallen And Welcome Presidents And Kings To Our Nation’s Capital, Putting In Countless Hours Behind The Scenes In Their Quest For Perfection To Honor. Membership In The Old Guard Is A High Honor For A U.s. Soldier, And Its Soldiers Serve To Remind Americans That Tradition, Integrity, And Patriotism Still Matter. Sacred Duty Is Both A History Of The 3rd Infantry Regiment—the Oldest Active-duty Regiment In The Army—and A Personal Reflection On Honor, Ritual, And Service, From One Of Our Most Respected Public Figures. It Is Also A Meditation On The Value Of Service To One’s Country—and On Those Who Have Paid The Ultimate Price For Our Freedom. Includes Approximately 25 Photos. "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."--Dust jacket 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