Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: A Century of Honor, 1921-2021

WINNER: IBBY Silver Medal for Excellence in Non-Fiction For over a century, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been America s most cherished and revered military shrine. The dramatic story of this magnificent monument is skillfully told by historian Philip Bigler, in his highly readable, narrative account: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: A Century of Honor, 1921-2021. In his book, Bigler chronicles the Tomb s history from its early inception after World War I through its formalization and beautification. The shrine s symbolism and continuing cultural importance are explained, while the subsequent interments of the World War II, Korean, and Vietnam Unknowns are covered in detail and framed within the context and scope of the nation s history. Bigler spent over two years conducting extensive primary source research at the National Archives, the Eisenhower Library, the Library of Congress, the Commission of Fine Arts, as well as at other important historical repositories. From 1983 through