A Guide to Burial at Arlington National Cemetery
At the Time of Need
Arranging an Interment (Ground Burial)
Upon the demise of the veteran or veteran's spouse, the surviving spouse or personal representative should contact a local funeral home to arrange for any desired services in the home town. While the surviving spouse or personal representative is at the funeral home, the funeral director should telephone the Interment Office at Arlington National Cemetery (703) 607-8585 to arrange for the interment service. Before scheduling the service, the cemetery staff will need to determine the eligibility of the deceased (see interment eligibility criteria). Upon verification of eligibility, the cemetery staff will schedule the interment. Any documents requested by the cemetery staff to confirm eligibility can be faxed to the cemetery on telephone number (703) 607-8583.
Procedure for Arranging an Inurnment in the Columbarium
Arranging for an inurnment service is the same as for arranging for an interment (ground burial) service except that the surviving spouse or personal representative may telephone the Interment Office to arrange for the service. The urn containing the cremated remains must be tightly sealed and hand carried by the family on the day of the service or delivered by a local funeral home up to three working days prior to the service. The cemetery will not accept cremated remains sent via US Postal Services or common carrier.
Important: Partial (or split) remains will not be accepted for burial, and in all cases, cremated remains interred or inurned at Arlington National Cemetery must be delivered with a Certificate of Cremation or a Death Certificate.
Columbarium niches are designed to accommodate two receptacles, e.g., for a veteran and eligible spouse. The niche dimensions are 13" in height, 10" in width, and 18" in length. Accordingly, it is important that these dimensions are considered when purchasing an urn (receptacle). If a second inurnment is anticipated, both receptacles must fit within these dimensions.
When the caisson is being provided to transport cremated remains, for ground burial or the Columbarium, the single receptacle, in addition to a folded American flag, must fit within a confined area measuring 11" in height, 13" in width, and 16" in length. Note: For the purpose of the ceremony and placement on the caisson, the receptacle should utilize no more than half of the total space available.
There are no fees or costs for an interment or inurnment. The only cost to the estate of the deceased is for a private monument if the next-of-kin should elect to have a private monument (depending on the availability of gravesites in sections of the cemetery where private monuments are permitted) erected in lieu of using the government provided headstone or for a vault if the next-of-kin should elect to provide for an outside container other than the graveliner provided by the government. Note: The availability of gravesites in the older sections will be exhausted in the near future.
All costs associated with preparation of the remains, casket or urn, and shipping of the remains to the Washington, DC area are at the expense of the estate unless the deceased is currently on active duty with a branch of the Armed Forces. Please check with your local VA office and Social Security office to determine if any benefits are available from either or both agencies.
Assignment of Gravesites/Niches
Gravesites/niches are assigned the afternoon on the day before the interment service. Where a previous interment/inurnment has occurred. The next available grave or niche is assigned for the interment or inurnment. Assignment of graves and niches are without regard to military rank, race, color, creed, or gender of the qualifying service member. At the time of demise, family may request a burial location close to other family members interned or inurned within the cemetery, however limited space may prevent the cemetery from accommodating such requests.
Military Honors
Enlisted — Standard graveside honors can be provided by the appropriate branch of service. The cemetery staff will arrange for the military honors when military honors are requested. The honors will include body bearers (pall bearers), firing party, and a bugler. Additional honors may be available for certain E-9's depending on the branch of service. A military chaplain may be scheduled by the cemetery staff unless the family minister is desired and provided by the next-of-kin or the funeral home.
Commissioned and Warrant Officers — In addition to the standard graveside honors provided above, the caisson, band, and escort troops may be scheduled by the cemetery staff, if requested. For Army and Marine O-6 and higher, the riderless horse is used. For Flag Officers (Navy, Coast Guard, and Marines), the Minute Guns are provided. For Flag Officers (Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marines), the Gun Salute is provided.
Certified active military service — Former members of a group that has been certified as active military service for the purpose of receiving veteran benefits under Section 401 of Public Law 95-202 (see list) and are therefor entitled to inurnment in the Columbarium are now deemed entitled to military honors as well and will be provided such honors when requested. The honors will include body bearers (pall bearers), firing party, and a bugler. A military chaplain may be scheduled by the cemetery staff unless the family minister is desired and provided by the next-of-kin or the funeral home.
Dependents with no military service — The cemetery staff will arrange for body bearers and the family may request a military chaplain.
Most veterans are eligible for a burial flag. Only one burial flag may be provided per veteran. Requests for a burial flag must be made at the time of need. Burial flags may be obtained from VA regional offices and most U.S. post offices by completing VA Form 21-2008, Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes, and submitting it with a copy of the veteran's discharge papers at either of the locations.
Government Headstone/Niche Cover — The government will provide at no cost to the estate of the deceased an upright, white marble headstone or white niche cover. The cemetery staff at Arlington will place the order, which goes to the National Cemetery Administration, part of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The order for the headstone or niche cover will include the appropriate inscription and choice of faith emblems.
While the next-of-kin does not order the government headstone/niche cover for placement in Arlington National Cemetery, he or she can check on the status of the order by calling Arlington's Administration Building, 1-703-607-8579, between 7:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Private Monument — Certain sections of the cemetery were designated in 1947 where private monuments could be placed. Private monuments that were placed in the cemetery were subject to review and approval prior to installation. As of April 1, 2001, gravesites in these older private-monument sections are no longer available.
Graveliners are the outside concrete containers in which caskets are placed. The government will provide a graveliner for an initial casketed interment at no cost. If the previous interment was without a graveliner or vault and the subsequent interment is on top of the previous interment, the government will not provide a graveliner. Graveliners are used by the government to reduce the amount of sinkage of the grave subsequent to the interment.