Arlington’s congressman isn’t expecting the Trump administration’s National Park Service to return to Arlington House educational materials that cast Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s role in history in a critical light.
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) and other Democrats in Virginia’s congressional delegation had demanded the return of the Junior Ranger Program activity booklet to Arlington House in time for America’s 250th birthday . The booklet was reportedly flagged for stating, “In 1829, Robert E. Lee promised to serve in the Army and protect the United States. In 1861, he broke his promise and fought for slavery.”
The congressman said the congressional delegation hasn’t received a response to their letter from NPS.
“And I don’t expect that from NPS,” Beyer told ARLnow in a recent interview. “Sadly, the Park Service all around the country took down anything that they felt might ruffle people’s emotional feathers, which sadly means they were taking down a lot of our history.”
Beyer said the one line in the booklet mentioning Lee betraying his country and fighting for slavery “was enough to get the book banned.” He noted a book called “Robert E. Lee and Me” by retired Brig. Gen. Ty Seidule details how Lee later walked away from the oath of allegiance to the U.S. he took during his West Point years.
Beyer gave fellow members of Congress copies of the booklet when it came out and still has boxes of them.
“I love my country. I’m very proud of my country. I think there really is an American exceptionalism,” Beyer said. “Part of that exceptionalism is looking at the thing, the mistakes we made, whether it’s slavery or Wounded Knee or the Japanese internment camps, and having grown through them and learned from them.”
Stephen Hammond, part of a group of descendants who were among the enslaved and enslavers at Arlington House, told ARLnow NPS invited descendants to collaborate on the activity book from about December 2023 to May 2024.
“I think it was intended to be not only reflective of actual events, but it was also intended to be written in a way that could be shared with young people so that they could understand the broader context,” Hammond said.
Hammond said the activity book includes input from the Family Circle of descendants at Arlington House, which includes Lee and Custis family descendants.
“The fact that Lee family members and the other descendant family members were able to talk about this and come to agreement that this is how it should be worded — that to me is a powerful reflection of the conversations that we’re having as the Family Circle,” Hammond said.
