The Origin of
Monument Press

Monument Press was established on April 7, 2023, but its origin can be traced to November 11, 1986. That was the date that Arlington National Cemetery: Shrine to America’s Heroes was first published by Woodbine House, an independent publishing company in Kensington, Md. Woodbine House also published the second and third editions of the book in 2000 and 2008 respectively.

As author of that book, Jim was unable to work on a fourth edition until he retired at the end of 2019. Just as he was beginning the work, the COVID pandemic struck, and Woodbine House placed all projects on hold. As we emerged from the pandemic in spring 2020, he received a letter from the publisher of Woodbine House regretfully informing him that Woodbine House was closing its business. COVID had claimed another victim. As an employee of Woodbine House when his book was published, he had remained friends with the staff for more than 35 years. But now he looked elsewhere to publish a fourth edition.

Then Jim realized he could publish the book himself. The talented woman, Shala Stevenson, who had designed the third edition lived in Lawrence and when asked, she readily agreed to design the new book. Jim also discovered that the same book printer who had printed the first three editions was available, as well. That was enough to convince him to take the plunge into publishing.  

The next step was to create a name for the imprint that reflected the stature of its first publication, Arlington National Cemetery: Shrine to America’s Heroes—a name that represented history, honor, and national pride. Ergo, Monument Press. 

— Jim Peters (1951–2023)