INFORMATION GUIDE

Arlington

National Cemetery Natio

Our Nation's Most Hallowed Ground

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Arlington National Cemetery is under the jurisdiction of 

the U.S. Department of the Army. As a national shrine, 

Arlington National Cemetery honors the men and wom

who have served in the Armed Forces. Approximately 2

to 30 funerals are held daily, and the cemetery is visite

by more than four million visitors each year.

LOCATING A GRAVESITE

To locate a gravesite, call (877) 907-8585, or visit the 

Customer Service Desk in the Visitors' Center. 

HOURS

The Cemetery is open to the public every day of the ye

between the hours of:

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. from October 1 to March 31

8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. from April 1 to September 30

The Administration Building is open from 8:00 a.m. 

to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, to assist family 

members with questions or concerns.

CONTACTING THE CEMETERY

By phone: 

 (877) 907-8585

By mail:

 Arlington National Cemetery

 Arlington, Virginia 22211-5003 

GENERAL INFORMATION

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FLAGS

The placement of fl ags on gravesites is not permitted

with the exception of Memorial Day. During this time, 

the cemetery places small fl ags on each grave and 

removes them immediately after Memorial Day.

FLOWERS

Cut fl owers are permitted on gravesites at any time. 

Artifi cial plants are permitted between October 10 

and April 15 only. Potted plants are permitted seven 

days before and seven days after Easter. Statues, 

lights, glass objects, and other impediments are not 

permitted at anytime. Flowers may be placed at the 

bottom of each niche wall only. Permanent fl ower 

containers which are placed below ground level and 

have telescoping fl ower vases are permitted, but mus

be installed by cemetery staff. 

Tributes must not be attached to the headstone or 

grave marker.

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Lithochrome, or darkening of the lettering of a headst

at Arlington National Cemetery is consistent with the 

Department of Veterans Affairs no lithochrome policy. 

ANC policy on lithochrome states that headstones w

be ordered consistent with the character of the sectio

in which they are to be placed.

This means:

• Headstones ordered for sections 54, 59, 60, an

64, as well as niche covers for the Columbarium 

and Niche Wall, will be lithochromed.

• Lithochrome will not be used when ordering 

headstones for any other section.

• Headstones and niche covers will only be replac

because of fading if requested by the immediate 

next of kin at the time of interment/inurnment.

• Any new sections will not have lithochrome.

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MAINTENANCE

The maintenance staff works thoroughly to upkeep the 

visual appeal and precision that the cemetery demands

Graves are fi lled and leveled after each burial, and on 

a continual basis. Cemetery grounds are manicured 

regularly. During the fi rst interment, the soil is particular

vulnerable to sinkage caused by the settling of the 

soil. Sodding is done in both the spring and the fall 

when the weather conditions are most favorable for the 

establishment of turf. 

VEHICLE PASSES

A permanent pass is issued to the next of kin at the tim

of burial. Additional passes are available for the parents

children, and siblings of the deceased. Passes are for 

visiting your loved one and NOT for touring the cemete

Passes may be obtained by requesting an application i

the Administration Building, via the web at:

 www.arlingtoncemetery.mil, or writing:

 ATTN: Administrative Offi cer

 Arlington National Cemetery

 Arlington, Virginia 22211-5003

Additionally, a temporary pass may be issued to anyone 

wishing to visit a specifi c gravesite at Arlington Nationa

Cemetery. A temporary pass can be issued upon arriva

the cemetery at the Customer Service desk in the Visito

Center, and is valid for one visit only. Visitors should pa

in the pay parking facility; the fi rst 30 minutes of parking

is free.

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ADDITIONAL BURIALS

Eligible family members may be buried at Arlington 

National Cemetery. Eligibility is based on the 

veteran’s military service. Burial arrangements 

cannot be made in advance. To arrange for an 

additional family member’s interment/inurnment 

after an initial interment/inurnment, the next of 

kin or the family representative should contact a 

local funeral home. The funeral director should 

contact the cemetery’s Consolidated Customer 

Service Center to request a burial date and initiate 

coordination with the Interment Services Branch a

(877) 907-8585. 

If the deceased is cremated, the next of kin or thei

representative may contact the Customer Service 

Call Center without using a funeral home. 

CEMETERY PROTOCOL

• The cemetery may not be used as picnic 

grounds or for other recreational activities.

• Visitors must conduct themselves appropriate

in order to honor the dignity and sacredness o

the cemetery.

• Littering is prohibited.

• Visitors are not to cut, break, or injure trees, 

shrubs or plants throughout the cemetery.

• Visitors must respect the privacy of funerals 

when visiting gravesites.

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On behalf of the American people, 

to lay to rest those who have 

served our nation with dignity 

and honor, treating their families 

with respect and compassion, and 

connecting guests to the rich 

tapestry of the cemetery’s living 

history, while maintaining these 

hallowed grounds befitting the 

sacrifice of all those 

who rest here in

quiet repose.

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A NATIONAL SHRINE

A LIVING HISTORY OF FREEDOM

WHERE DIGNITY AND HONOR 

REST IN SOLEMN REPOSE

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Arlington

National Cemetery

Where Dignity & Honor Rest in Solemn repose

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