As I had reported back in March, the Interior Department was considering removing the Junior Ranger Program booklet at Arlington House, where Robert E. Lee lived before the Civil War. The mansion is in Arlington National Cemetery. It has been placed on the banned book list. Local sources say the booklet was removed because it said that; “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 Junior Ranger booklet also covers the presence of enslaved African Americans at the mansion.
The United States Congressional Representative, U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, has said that it is unlikely that the National Park Service will place the booklet back at the park to help children learn about the history of the site. He and other Virginia representatives have submitted a letter to the National Park Service asking them to restore the booklet and requesting a detailed explanation for why the booklets were remove. Beyer said “And I don’t expect that from NPS, 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.”
The president’s Executive Order says that some of the National Parks harm the “United States by casting its founding principles and historical milestones in a negative light.” The president says that proper history should “foster unity.” He writes that “Rather than fostering unity and a deeper understanding of our shared past, the widespread effort to rewrite history deepens societal divides and fosters a sense of national shame.” The president sketches out how the National Park Service should approach history:
“It is the policy of my Administration to restore Federal sites dedicated to history, including parks and museums, to solemn and uplifting public monuments that remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage, consistent progress toward becoming a more perfect Union, and unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity, and human flourishing. ”
Below are some excerps from the Junior Ranger booklet:
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