1963 – Medgar Evers Laid to Rest at Arlington National Cemetery

On June 14, 1963, civil rights leader Medgar Evers was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Just days earlier, Evers had been assassinated in Jackson, Mississippi, for his work as the NAACP field secretary. A World War II veteran, Evers returned from the battlefield to fight another war at home—against segregation, lynching, and voter suppression in the Deep South. His death shocked the nation and drew international condemnation. The massive turnout at his funeral, and the honor of burial at Arlington, recognized not only his military service but also his bravery in America’s civil rights battle. Evers\’ legacy continues to inspire activism and justice, especially in Mississippi, where his murder trial was famously retried decades later—leading to a conviction in 1994. His life and sacrifice remain a powerful symbol of resistance.