Hurricane Irene

[Lady Cop]

another casualty. a shame.

Arlington National Cemetery officials say a 220-year-old oak tree at the grave site of President John F Kennedy was destroyed in Hurricane Irene last weekend.

The historical 'Arlington Oak' stood through the construction of Arlington House, the pre-Civil War home of Confederate General Robert E Lee, and the creation of the cemetery in 1864.

The majestic tree, among five fallen at the national cemetery, shaded visitors to the Kennedy grave site for 48 years.

Steve Van Hoven, who is in charge of the cemetery's trees, said: 'It is truly unfortunate to see it's now gone - that tree had a significant legacy here at Arlington."



JFK grave





The Custis-Lee Mansion



The ancient 'Arlington Oak', pictured here, was present throughout the history of Arlington National Cemetery, including the construction of Arlington House, the pre-Civil War home of General Robert E. Lee, and the creation of the cemetery in 1864.

The 19^th-century mansion stands amid more than 250,000 military grave sites on a Virginia hillside rising above the Potomac River and overlooking Washington, DC.

But when construction began in 1802, the estate was not intended to be a national cemetery - but a living memorial to George Washington.

The first president's adopted grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, hired English architect George Hadfield to design the estate.

The Greek revival structure which Hadfield designed took Custis 16 years to complete.