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Army Post Cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery
To provide policy guidance and operational control over daily operations; ensure accurate casualty reporting and notification, supervise the planning and execution of the search, recovery, identification, and repatriation of all servicemen from all prior wars; serve as the point of contact for all Army POW/MIA matters and family programs; serve as the DoD Executive Agent for Mortuary Affairs and coordinate the activities of the Central Joint Mortuary Affairs Office.
Burial in Arlington National Cemetery
Retirees are eligible for burial in Arlington National Cemetery and inurnment (for cremated remains) in the Arlington National Cemetery Columbarium, and the few Army Post Cemeteries where grave space is available. Their surviving spouses, minor children, and certain unmarried adult children are eligible for interment in the same grave.
Surviving spouse and eligible children who predecease the retiree may be interred in Arlington or a post cemetery provided the retiree, before the family member's burial, signs an agreement to be buried in the same grave. Eligible children are defined as those who are unmarried and under 21 or, if 21 or older and incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical disability, are dependent upon the retiree for more than one-half of their support.
Approval authority for the burial of non-eligible adult children in Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) and Army post cemeteries is the Secretary of the Army. Requests for exception to policy for burial in ANC should be submitted to:
Director
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, VA 22211
Requests for exception to policy for burial in Army post cemeteries should be submitted through your Casualty Assistance Officer (CAO).
Assignment of space
One grave is authorized for the interment of a retiree and his or her eligible family members. A gravesite will be assigned at the time a request for interment is received. Gravesites may not be reserved in advance of the initial interment.
Arrangements for interment
As soon as possible after a retiree's death, the person making arrangements for the interment (usually the funeral director) should contact the Office of the Director of Arlington National Cemetery or the superintendent of the post cemetery where interment is desired. When a request for interment is received, a tentative date and time are scheduled pending verification from official records of the decedent's entitlement to burial. The funeral director or family member will be notified as soon as eligibility for burial is confirmed. The remains are not to be shipped to the cemetery until eligibility for burial is confirmed. The Office at Arlington National Cemetery is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and on Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The telephone numbers are (202) 695-3250, 695-3253 and 695-3255.
Cremated remains
Cremated remains may be taken directly to the cemetery, or they may be shipped via the U.S. Postal Service or air express to:
Superintendent
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, VA 22211
If sent by air express, the funeral director or family member must arrange for pickup and delivery to the cemetery. If sent by mail, consult the post office for best parcel post method of delivery.
Cost
There is no charge for a niche in the Columbarium nor for the inscribed marble plaque with which each niche is sealed. Also, there is no charge for a grave in Arlington National Cemetery or Army post cemeteries, for opening and closing the grave, or for a Government headstone or marker, or installation of the marker. Other disposition of remains expenses, including preparation of the remains, a casket or urn, an outer shipping container, and/or burial vault, services of a funeral director, and transportation of remains to the cemetery are the responsibility of the family or other party that secured funeral services.
Additional information
Additional information concerning burial at Arlington National Cemetery, may be obtained from:
Superintendent
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, VA 22211
Burial in Other National Cemeteries
Department of Veterans Affairs - National Cemetery Administration (NCA) has responsibility for national cemeteries, except Arlington and the Armed Forces Retirement Home. Contact the VA (1-800-827-1000) for more information.
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