Section 27 (Photo by Michael A. McCoy)

Section 27 at Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place to over 5,000 African American Soldier and Civilians who served during the Civil War. Most visitors to Arlington National Cemetery generally visit the popular sights such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and President John F. Kennedy’s gravesite. Most people are not aware of rich African American History that lies in this section. Did you know that on May 13, 1864, 21 year old Private William H. Christman, a black soldier from Pennsylvania, became the first military man buried at Arlington National Cemetery?

A rose rests on the grave of Private William H. Christman in Section 27 at Arlington National Cemetery. (Photo by Michael McCoy)

Arthur and Karen Kellam of Fayetteville, NC places a flower on the grave of PVT Christman in Section 27 at Arlington National Cemetery. (Photo by Michael A. McCoy)

Section 27 is also the resting place for African American Medal of Honor recipients like SGT James H. Harris, of the 38th U.S. Colored Troops and SGT Thomas Shaw of the 9th U.S. Cavalry just to name a few.

A rose rests on the grave of Medal of Honor Receiptent SGT Thomas Shaw in Section 27 at Arlington National Cemetery. (Photo by Michael McCoy)

While paying my respect to the soldiers, who paved the way for African American soldiers such as myself, the only other people that were in Section 27 were African American employees of the cemetery, a African American Military Police Officer, and a African American couple visiting from Fayetteville, NC. Let’s not forget all of our hero’s. Salute!!!

Arlington Cemetery employees pay respect to African American Soldiers buried in Section 27 at Arlington National Cemetery. (Photo by Michael A. McCoy)