ARLINGTON, VA - Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) will close to visitors beginning Friday, March 13, 2020 as we take precautionary measures to protect the health of our employees, families and visitors. Funerals will be conducted as scheduled, but family members should contact 1-877-907-8585 for more information on new arrival procedures or if they would like to reschedule a funeral.The cemetery will be open to family pass holders only for visitation from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.ANC will continually assess and will update status to the public.
“U.S. Army and Department of Defense guidance is clear: force health protection is paramount,” said Karen Durham-Aguilera, Executive Director, Office of Army National Cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery.“We have a responsibility to protect our employees, the families of our fallen service members paying respect to their loved ones, andthe thousands of visitors per day who come here to appreciate this national shrine. We do not make this decision lightly, but closing our doors to visitors allows us to focus our energy and resources on our core mission of safely laying our nation’s warriors to rest.”
ANC is complying with Department of Defensedirectives and the supplemental “Force Health Protection Guidance for the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak,” and has implemented risk-based measures consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.
Ray Alexander, Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery, stated, “Protecting the health of our force and our visitors is a top priority; we are taking proactive steps to mitigate the spread of the virus, as many of the cemetery’s memorials and visitor spaces do not allow for the recommended ‘social distancing’ that is called for by medical guidelines.”
Families who arrive at ANC for their scheduled funerals are being asked to remain in their cars when they arrive into the designated queuing lanes.For more information on how to proceed once you arrive at Arlington, please visit our website at: www.ArlingtonCemetery.mil.
Arlington National Cemetery would like to thank our dedicated workforce and service members who must remain at the cemetery to ensure that the nation’s veterans and families receive the dignified honors they deserve. We also remind everyone to adhere to the guidance outlined by the CDC to avoid contracting or spreading respiratory illnesses like the flu or COVID-19.
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FAQs
Arlington National Cemetery Closes to Visitors - Funerals Continue as Scheduled. ARLINGTON, VA - Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) will close to visitors beginning Friday, March 13, 2020 as we take precautionary measures to protect the health of our employees, families and visitors.
How do funerals work at Arlington National Cemetery? ›
The family's assigned ANC representative provides guidance on the funeral procession. Procession departs from queuing lanes, led by the family's assigned ANC representative, to the gravesite location or transfer point.
How long is the wait for a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery? ›
Services for casketed remains are generally scheduled within three weeks of receiving the request for burial.
How many funerals are there per day at Arlington cemetery? ›
Arlington National Cemetery is the most hallowed burial ground of our nation's fallen. A fully operational national cemetery since May 1864, Arlington conducts between 27 and 30 funeral services each weekday and between six and eight services on Saturdays — final farewells to fallen heroes and their family members.
Is there a dress code for a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery? ›
Formal or semi-formal clothing is typically worn to show respect, and many visitors opt to wear suits, dresses, or dress pants and a collared shirt.
Is there reception after funeral at Arlington National Cemetery? ›
Arlington National Cemetery does not have any facilities available to let a family gather after the funeral, for either food or reception. Some families like to have a place available to receive friends after the interment, for a time of fellowship and a meal.
Can I leave flowers on a grave at Arlington National Cemetery? ›
Fresh cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time. ANC provides portable temporary cones for flowers that the public may use. These cones can be found throughout the cemetery in centralized containers. Artificial flowers may be placed on gravesites from October 10 through April 15.
How much is a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery? ›
Arlington National Cemetery does not charge fees for an interment or inurnment at the cemetery. The only potential costs to the estate of the deceased are for vaults.
Can you bury cremated remains at Arlington National Cemetery? ›
Arlington National Cemetery requires certification of 100% of cremated remains and a cremated remains certificate. We support industry best practices of providing the cremation identification number, which is included with the remains and annotated on the cremation certificate.
How many people can attend a funeral at Arlington? ›
The maximum capacity for funeral services at Old Post Chapel is 200 persons.
Robert E. Lee never returned to his Arlington estate. No one knows if it was because his front lawn became a graveyard or because he had just had enough with the Washington area, but Lee moved to Lexington, Virginia and died five years later.
What is the oldest grave at Arlington National Cemetery? ›
[3] The grave of William Christman, a Private from the 67th Pennsylvania is the oldest military grave at Arlington.
Who is the most famous person buried in the Arlington National Cemetery? ›
Grave of John F.
The gravesite of John F. Kennedy, 35th president of the United States, is the most visited of all the graves in Arlington National Cemetery.
How long does it take to schedule a funeral at Arlington? ›
Each request is unique and it can take several weeks to several months to schedule and conduct a service at Arlington National Cemetery.
Is it proper for a veteran to salute during Taps at a funeral? ›
These service members are expected to salute several times during the burial, including when the hearse passes in front of them, whenever the casket is moved, when the formal gun salute is given, whenever Taps is played, and when the casket is laid to rest in the ground.
Can you wear red to a cemetery? ›
However, unless specifically requested by the deceased or their family, you should avoid any bright colors such as yellows, oranges, pinks, and reds. In terms of accessories, a white shirt is the most common item of clothing to wear under a suit, while jewelry should be kept to a minimum and not too flashy.
Who pays for burial at Arlington National Cemetery? ›
Interment/Inurnment Costs
Arlington National Cemetery does not charge fees for an interment or inurnment at the cemetery. The only potential costs to the estate of the deceased are for vaults. Effective December 2017, placement of private markers is no longer available for service members and families.
What qualifies burial at Arlington National Cemetery? ›
Persons eligible are members of the Armed Forces who die on active duty; veterans who are retired and receiv- ing retired pay, or would be eligible for retired pay but for their age, or are eligible for retirement but remain in an active reserve status; certain former members of the Armed Forces who were sep- arated ...
What funeral homes work with Arlington National Cemetery? ›
In fact, Storke Funeral Home is the closest funeral home to Arlington National Cemetery, because our office is actually located on Joint Base Myer/Henderson Hall (Fort Myer), which is adjacent to the cemetery and home of the Army's 3rd Infantry, “The Old Guard.” We have the distinction of being the only funeral home ...
