In an interview with the University of Connecticut, history professor and author Micki McElya emphasized the importance of Arlington National Cemetery as a sacred place. She believes that Arlington captures the entire history of the United States, not just as a beautiful and profound space but also as one that tells many different stories, including those that are difficult or contested.
Arlington’s history includes its origins as a plantation built by enslaved people, many of whom are buried there along with their descendants. The cemetery is also the site where Robert E. Lee decided to leave the U.S. Army to fight for the Confederacy.
McElya, who wrote “The Politics of Mourning: Death and Honor in Arlington National Cemetery, noted that Arlington is a place where many historical and political threads come together. However, this puts a heavy burden on a small piece of land.
Arlington is not alone in this. The United States is full of sacred places, from local cemeteries to places of worship, government buildings, Civil War battlegrounds, land sacred to Indigenous tribes, and numerous historical sites.
Recently, Americans, particularly in Utah, have had to confront the intersection of sacred spaces like Arlington and raw politics. This is an important issue to explore, especially in a time when sacred things are often disregarded.
Earlier this week, during a wreath-laying ceremony to honor the 13 soldiers who died during the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan, including Utah’s Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor, former President Donald Trump’s campaign staff clashed with cemetery officials. The Army reported that participants were informed of rules against filming for political purposes, but a cemetery official was pushed aside when trying to enforce them. The Trump campaign criticized the official, but the Army defended her actions and chose not to press charges.
Separately, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox’s campaign posted pictures of the ceremony, which he attended with Trump, in a campaign email. The governor later apologized, saying the campaign was not authorized to do so.
Political campaigns can sometimes get out of hand, and while that may be understandable, Americans often look to their leaders for guidance. Unfortunately, the standard is slipping, and we should expect better.
Last year, there was controversy in the U.S. Senate when Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman wore shorts and a hoodie on the Senate floor, breaking a long-standing dress code. The Washington Post editorial board pointed out that dressing formally shows respect for the institution and the important work being done.
This brings us to the heart of the matter: sacred places are important because they carry silent but powerful messages about what society values. They encourage us to dress and act with dignity, helping us to reflect on things larger than ourselves.
Places of worship, as Harvard’s Robert D. Putnam has noted, play a crucial role in building and sustaining social capital and fostering civic good works. Historical sites honor those who made sacrifices for future generations.
On a daily level, civil discourse honors the sanctity of life and equality. Insults and profane language, on the other hand, degrade it. Weddings and funerals call for our best dress, not just as a tradition but as a sign of respect.
The nation needs a serious discussion about sacred places and decorum, not just in politics but across society. Losing respect for these places means losing the important messages they convey.
As the American Historical Review said in its review of McElya’s book on Arlington: In the cities of the dead, we find meaning for the living.” This is true for Arlington and many other places as well.