To be eligible for burial at Arlington National Cemetery
one must be active duty, retired, or a decorated veteran. Cremated remains
of anyone who has received an honorable discharge, regardless of length
of service, may be inurned in the Columbarium. The spouse or unmarried
minor or permanently dependent child of any of the above also qualify.
A copy of the deceased DD 214 is required!
Arlington deals primarily with funeral homes, but also with individuals representing the deceased. The funeral home or the qualified individual should contact the cemetery to arrange a time and place for the service, the kind of service and the reservation of the reception room in the administrative building if available for a post service reception. If a reception is desired, the office will provide coffee and tea with condiments, and punch, cups and napkins without charge. A contribution is appreciated. Any food served must be arranged separately. The family must provide a registry book, if desired. The telephone numbers for Arlington National Cemetery are: Interment Services (703) 607-8585, general information (703) 607-8000 or go to their web site at www.arlingtoncemetery.org
Either Simple Honors or Full Honors will be provided. Simple Honors include six servicemen as casket bearers, a firing squad and a bugler to play “Taps”. An escort is provided for the next of kin. A military chaplain will conduct the service in the chapel and/or at graveside. If a personal member of the clergy conducts the service, he/she will be accompanied at graveside by a military chaplain. The cemetery staff will provide a military chaplain and schedule a chapel upon request, the next of kin or funeral directors are not required to make these arrangements.
Full Honors adds the horse-drawn caisson, the caparisoned
riderless horse for O-6 and above, eight casket bearers, a band, and a contingent of troops. The type of honors rendered is a choice made by the family, although scheduling restrictions may limit that choice. Family members
may request friends or classmates to serve as honorary pallbearers.
The selection of the gravesite is generally made by the cemetery administration depending upon the type of tombstone to be used. Privately purchased tombstones may be used only in selected sections of the cemetery; government headstones in all sections. Burial may be with the coffin buried in the ground with or without a sealed vault or concrete liner. The latter two are not required nor are they furnished by the cemetery. Whichever choice is made is not visible during the graveside ceremony. A casket is not provided, although the Veterans Administration does provide the standard tombstone at no cost. Cremation, if desired, is arranged through the funeral home. Cremated remains may be inurned in the columbarium or interred in the ground. There can be Full Military Honors with a caisson for cremated remains since there is a special casket mounted on the caisson to accommodate an urn.
Arlington National Cemetery or the Government bear some
of the expenses of burial. For retirees and veterans, both Social Security
and veterans’ burial allowances can offset some of the costs. It is best
to contact a local VA or Social Security office for details. For help and
advice in all matters dealing with the death of a military member, contact:
Army & Air Force Mutual Aid Association
102 Sheridan Avenue
Ft. Myer, VA 22211
800 522-5221
www.aafmaa.com
There are many hotels near Arlington National Cemetery and Reagan National Airport:
Sheraton National
just outside the cemetery
703 521-1900
Motel 50
just outside the Ft. Myer main gate on Route 50
703 524-3400
Guest quarters at Ft. Myer (Wainwright Hall)
available to general
officers only
Call the Army Protocol Office, Pentagon
703 697-0692
Guest quarters at Ft. Belvoir
703 704-8600
Guest quarters at Ft. Meade
301 677-6529
Guest quarters at Andrews Air Force Base
301 981-4614
Guest quarters at Bolling Air Force Base
202 767-5771
More specific information can be obtained by writing to:
Superintendent
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, VA 22211
Ask for a copy of the pamphlet entitled Interment
in Arlington National Cemetery.
Visit www.arlingtoncemetery.org — the official website for Arlington National Cemetery.
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