Sacred Duty

Sacred Duty: A Soldier’s Tour at Arlington National Cemetery by Tom Cotton

In this deeply moving memoir, U.S. Senator and former Army officer Tom Cotton recounts his time serving in the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) — America’s oldest active-duty infantry regiment — charged with the solemn mission of honoring the fallen at Arlington National Cemetery. Cotton takes readers behind the scenes of state funerals, the daily rituals, the meticulous precision and emotional weight of carrying flag-draped remains, and the regiment’s ceaseless commitment to ensuring that every service is executed as a “no-fail, zero-defect mission.”

Laced with history — from The Old Guard’s roots in 1784 to its role in modern military and ceremonial duties — the book is part personal memoir, part regimental history, part meditation on service, memory and national responsibility. It is particularly recommended to readers who appreciate military traditions, ceremonial excellence, and compelling stories of duty and sacrifice.

Key Features:

• Author: Tom Cotton
• Hardcover
• An insider’s account of service with The Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery, including the author’s own time between Iraqi and Afghan deployments.
• A detailed look at the regiment’s ceremonial mission: military-honor funerals, guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, state funerals, and other high-stakes duties.
• Exploration of themes such as honor, precision, sacrifice, and the personal cost of service — in the field and on “the most sacred ground in America.”
• Historical context of The Old Guard’s lineage, its mission, and how the regiment embodies the U.S. Army’s public face of ceremony and remembrance.
• An accessible read for veterans and civilians alike — offering a bridge between the everyday realities of soldiering and the ideal of service to nation.