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History of Arlington National Cemetery

presented to Lion Club members

Retired Army Maj. Gen. Merdith Custis married Robert E. Lee in the In 1920, the Memorial Amphitheater
W. B. "Bo" Temple spoke to the parlor at Arlington House in 1831. was built, and the next year the first
Chester Lions about Arlington National Custis remained there until his death in unknown soldier was buried there. 11310 Ironbridge Road
Cemetery on Sept.12. The story was 1857. Lee took a leave of absence from Congress established Arlington House Chester, VA 23831
quite interesting for the club members. the Army to help manage the property to be a memorial for Robert E. Lee in 804-796-7539
The following is a summary of its from 1858 to1860. According to Custis’s 1925 and directed the Army to refurbish
history shared by Temple and recorded will, all of the slaves were to be released the house. Fortunately, there were a Lunch & Dinner Buffet available daily!
Weekly Specials & Full Menu.
by Lions Club member Carelyn Steele when the estates bill had been paid or number of elderly slaves and others Full Service & Carry-Out Catering!
Sheppard. after five years, which Lee did in 1862. who brought artifacts back to Arlington www.brocksbbq.com
During the 17th century, the Custis The Lee household moved to House and told them how the home had
family lived on the Eastern Shore in Richmond at the beginning of the Civil been decorated. In addition to telling
Northampton County, War. Within a month, Federal troops where pieces of furniture were, they Richmond Spine
Va., where John moved into Arlington House. The explained how various rooms and things
Custis built a house he government ordered Mary Lee to appear had been used. The first-hand stories and
named Arlington. His in person to pay all of the taxes on the knowledge of the home and property Interventions
great grandson, Daniel property. Needless to say, she did not. enrich our knowledge and understanding
Parke Custis, married The federal government purchased the of the property and times. Peyman Nazmi, M.D.
Martha Dandridge in property at auction for burial space since Arlington is an honored final resting Marc Caligtan, M.D.
1749 and left her a the District of Columbia had very little place for deceased veterans. There are
widow with two small MAJ. MERDITH space remaining. They also built several veterans from the Revolutionary War • Epidural
children in 1757. In W. B. "BO" TEMPLE forts nearby to protect Washington. After to present day. Of the 7,000 burials
January 1759, Martha married George Mary Lee’s death, her eldest son, George each year, a little less than half are steroid Injections
Washington and moved with her children Washington Custis Lee, took legal action ceremonial.
Patsy and John Parke Custis to Mount regarding the property. The property was • Neck and back
Vernon. In 1778, J.P. Custis acquired returned by the U.S. Supreme Court in spinal injections
1,100 acres of land which would 1882 and subsequently purchased by Contributed by Carelyn Sheppard
later become Arlington. The property Congress in 1883. Lions Club member RichmondSpinePain.com
stretched along the Virginia side of (804) 378-1800
the Potomac River. At the time of his
death in 1781, the property transferred
to his infant son, George Washington
Parke Custis. He took possession of the We take
property and in 1804 began construction
of Arlington House – named such as your
homage to the ancestral home– on a hill
overlooking Washington, D.C. smile
Because of the hilly topography,
Custis was not able to farm crops on the personal
estate. He, therefore, raised sheep and
opened the property to tourists. Even
though neither endeavor proved to be
financially profitable, the home became
a haven of artifacts related to George Metal - Clear - Invisible Braces
Washington. Mary Anna Randolph ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
FREE CONSULTATION

VSU donates land to Ettrick-Matoaca Library

Chesterfield the university's 416-acre Randolph
County held Farm. A sign to commemorate the WB
a ceremony university's generosity was unveiled
recently to at the event. ORTHODONTICS
commemorate “I can’t over emphasize the
Virginia State importance of Virginia State
University’s University in terms of its overall Accept most insurances
land donation contributions to community and including Medicaid
to the Ettrick- county,” said Matoaca Supervisor Active-Duty Military
Matoaca Steve Elswick. Discounts & Sibling
Library. He added, “They have been so Discounts
The county instrumental in many of our projects, Wakeshi Benson, DDS, FADI
recognized the and such a wonderful partner. We
donation of especially appreciate the donation (804) 454-1888
MEMBERS OF VSU’S BOARD, LIBRARY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS this property, of this property to the library, which
AT THE SIGN UNVEILING. ON THE FAR LEFT IS CHESTERFIELD which is located adds to the quality of life, not only wb-orthodontics.com
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR JOSEPH CASEY; KAHIL DOTAY, PAST
PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY between the for those who live in the Matoaca 12230 Iron Bridge Road • Suite B
PUBLIC LIBRARY, IN THE MIDDLE; AND VSU PRESIDENT MAKOLA library and District, but also for those who live Chester, VA 23831
ABDULLAH, ON THE NEAR LEFT. throughout the county.”
16 SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 news@villagenewsonline.com