Customer Reviews

Sacred Ground: A Tribute to America's Veterans

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This is a tribute to all the men and women who have served in our armed forces and to the sacred ground in which so many of them are buried. The neat rows and columns of matched marble headstones fill me with quiet awe. Not all the headstones are for those who died in battle. The close-ups of many of the photographs show recent years death for veterans who lived decades after their service in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and other conflicts. However, every headstone represents a life that bore a portion of the cost to keep America strong and free. These are the graves of individuals who answered the call, who did their duty, and to whom we owe more than we give them.

This beautifully done book contains 144 lavishly reproduced photographs of 47 of our national cemeteries. Did you know there that many and more? Frankly, it never even occurred to me. The author also includes words from great Americans of the past and present including a few short essays that deal with soldiers, sacrifice, and honor. The author, Tom Ruck, has said that he is donating all of his royalties to a scholarship for the children of fallen soldiers, the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund. I hope they get a big check and you can help them buy purchasing a copy of this beautiful book. You will also bless yourself by meditating over the pictures and words it contains and provide an opportunity for others in your home to benefit in the same way.

I grew up right after WWII and Korea. My father served as a transport pilot in the war and most of the other male adults I knew were also veterans or had some connection to those wars. My grandfather served in World War I. While I never served in the military, I am always aware of the sacrifices of those who have and always feel a debt towards them. This book is a powerful reminder of just how many there veterans there are. Our debt is great. Let's get serious about supporting the living vets and their widows and children better than we do. Our Congress needs to hear from us on this matter, especially when we are asking so much of our military in this time of war.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

As I read this remarkable work, I was struck as to how, 230 years later, Thomas Paine's words remain relative''''MacArthur, Patton...We have forgotten the meaning of Country, Honor, Sacrifice.

The photography alone will bring the largest individual to their knees, with the magnitude of what so many gave to preserve what the Founders set afloat nearly two-and half centuries ago. There is no political correctness in a military cemetary!

My thanks to Mr. Ruck and all who contributed to this remarkable work.

This book is one you will want to keep turning the pages to see more beautiful pictures, read the inspiring essays and quotes and reflect on the men and women who have sacrificed their own lives for our freedom. So appropriately named to honor the final resting place of our heroes. Sacred Ground will be cherished by all who own it.

This book is a stirring tribute to our National Cemeteries and a moving reminder that the freedom that we cherish as Americans is not free. Even for the individual that prefers not to visit a cemetery for personal reasons, this book is a must-have for every patriotic American's desk or coffee table.

I originally bought this for my husband at Christmas. We were moved by the beauty of the work, the words and pictures. Our father-in-law was a prisoner of war, endured and survived the Black Death March in Germany. We made a quick decision to give it to him for Christmas, even though we had already exchanged gifts with this family. This dear man never told his family he was a prisoner of war until 4 years ago. Personnel in the Va office got him talking about his war experience and that's when the details began to come to light. So we are thrilled we had this to give to him. Thank you.

Major disappointment---having been to several of our National Cemeteries and having relatives who fought in WWI and II buried in them, I expected much better photos that truly reflect the sober grandeur of the burial sites of our nation's heroes. I thought the selection of subject matter poor representations of these sites.