In this easy-to-use reference, Naval Academy English professor Nancy Prothro Arbuthnot tells the stories behind sixty of the Academy's monuments and memorials. To personalize the memorials and the naval figures they honor, she has included letters, firsthand battle reports, Lucky Bag commentaries, award citations, and other documents.
Along with famous quotations, the book also presents poems and tributes written by midshipmen that explain how the memorials have inspired them, along with original poems by the author. More than 140 illustrations, including black-and-white photographs and reproductions of historic sketches, visually enrich the book. In revealing the people and events behind the Academy's memorials, Arbuthnot provides models—or guiding lights—to help readers steer their own courses through life.
Nancy Prothro Arbuthnot has taught English at the U.S. Naval Academy since 1981. She has published books of original poetry and translations of poetry from the Aztec and Vietnamese, as well as works on naval art in World War II. She lives in Washington, D.C.
Praise for Guiding Lights
"For those of us who love the Naval Academy, this meticulously researched book provides an exciting glimpse into the past, with an emphasis on heroes who shaped naval history and have been honored with monuments and memorials."
—Jimmy Carter
"My father and grandfather were both Navy men of great courage and dignity. Both were tough acts to follow, but they inspired me. From the Naval Academy to government service, I was encouraged by their leadership to serve a cause greater than my own self interest. Hopefully the stories culled together in Guiding Lights will serve as similar guidance to future generations."
—John McCain
"Arbuthnot weaves comprehensive historical data with stirring prose and poetry penned by a wide variety of Academy midshipmen and grads, breathing life into the stories of these buildings and monuments. It's a creative and original addition to the library of books about the Academy."
