 John Ray proudly display lesser treasures of the Antietam Battlefield Museum, Sharpsburg, Maryland. |
Why The Arm Rests Here
Here's curator John Ray's story on the origin of the Arm of the Unknown Soldier:
"A farmer was out plowing his fields three weeks after the Battle of Antietam when he kicked up this arm. He didn't know what to do with it, so he put it in salt brine, to preserve it.
"Six months later, he decided he didn't want it anymore. He gave it to a local physician. Apparently, the physician put it in formaldehyde, which really preserved it. Then he wrapped it in gauze, and left it in his attic. When he died, they found it and auctioned it with his effects.
"The owner before me bought the arm at a public auction of the doctor's effects in Boonsboro [MD].
"When I bought the museum and house next to it, the museum had been closed since 1955."
"I've never advertised the arm, yet word of mouth...people from Europe come and say, 'We have heard there is an arm here in Antietam. Is this the place?'
"People bring their sons and daughters by, and say, 'I was here thirty-five years ago. Is the arm still here?'
"I say, 'Absolutely.' And they walk in."
