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Burial in Arlington National Cemetery

Army Reserve: Retired

Benefit Fact Sheet

Summary:

For the almost four million people who visit annually, Arlington National Cemetery represents many different things. For some, it is a chance to walk among headstones that chronicle American history; for many, it is an opportunity to remember and honor the nation's war heroes; and for others, it is a place to say a last farewell during funeral services for a Family member or friend.

Eligibility:

Soldiers who die while on active duty, retired members of the Armed Forces, and certain Veterans and Family members are eligible for burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

Benefit Highlights:

Eligibility for Interment (Ground Burial)

The persons specified below are eligible for ground burial in Arlington National Cemetery. The last period of active duty of former members of the Armed Forces must have ended honorably. Interment may be casketed or cremated remains.

  1. Any active duty member of the Armed Forces (except those members serving on active duty for training only).
  2. Any Veteran who is retired from active military service with the Armed Forces.
  3. Any Veteran who is retired from the Reserves is eligible upon reaching age 60 and drawing retired pay; and who served a period of active duty (other than for training).
  4. Any former member of the Armed Forces separated honorably prior to October 1, 1949 for medical reasons and who was rated at 30% or greater disabled effective on the day of discharge.
  5. Any former member of the Armed Forces who has been awarded one of the following decorations:
    1. Medal of Honor
    2. Distinguished Service Cross (Navy Cross or Air Force Cross)
    3. Distinguished Service Medal
    4. Silver Star
    5. Purple Heart
  6. Persons who have held any of the following positions provided their last period of active duty (other than for training) as a member of the Armed Forces terminated honorably:
    1. An elective office of the United States Government.
    2. Office of the Chief Justice of the United States or an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
    3. An office listed in 5 U.S.C. 5312 or 5 U.S.C. 5313.
    4. The Chief of a mission who was at any time during his/her tenure classified in class I under the provisions of Section 411 of the Act of 13 August 1946, 60 Stat. 1002, as amended.
  7. Any former Prisoner of War (POW) who, while a Prisoner of War, served honorably in the active military, naval, or air service, whose last period of military, naval or air service terminated honorably and who died on or after November 30, 1993.
  8. The spouse, widow or widower, minor child(ren), or permanently dependent child(ren), and certain unmarried adult children of any of the above eligible Veterans.
  9. The widow or widower of:
    1. A member of the Armed Forces who was lost or buried at sea or officially determined to be Missing in Action (MIA).
    2. A member of the Armed Forces who is interred in a US military cemetery overseas that is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
    3. A member of the Armed Forces who is interred in Arlington National Cemetery as part of a group burial.
  10. The surviving spouse, minor child(ren), or permanently dependent child(ren) of any person already buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
  11. The parents of a minor child(ren), or permanently dependent child(ren) whose remains, based on the eligibility of a parent, are already buried in ANC. A spouse divorced from the primary eligible, or widowed and remarried, is not eligible for interment.
  12. Provided certain conditions are met, a former member of the Armed Forces may be buried in the same grave with a close relative who is already buried and is the primary eligible.

Eligibility for Inurnment in the Columbarium

The following persons are eligible for inurnment in the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery. The last period of active duty (other than for training) of former members of the Armed Forces must have ended honorably.

  1. Any member of the Armed Forces who dies on active duty.
  2. Any former member of the Armed Forces who is retired from active duty.
  3. Any former member of the Armed Forces who served on active duty (other than for training) and whose last service terminated honorably.
  4. Any member of a Reserve Component of the Armed Forces who dies while he/she is:
    1. On active duty for training or performing full-time service under Title 32, United States Code.
    2. Performing authorized travel to or from that duty or service.
    3. On authorized inactive duty training including training performed as a member of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard (23 USC 502).
    4. Hospitalized or being treated at the expense of the United States for injury or disease incurred or contracted while he/she is on that duty or service, performing that travel or inactive duty training, or undergoing that hospitalization or treatment at the expense of the United States.
  5. Any member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps of the Army, Navy, or Air Force whose death occurs while he/she is:
    1. Attending an authorized training camp.
    2. On an authorized practice cruise.
    3. Performing authorized travel to or from that camp or cruise.
    4. Hospitalized or receiving treatment at the expense of the United States for injury or disease incurred while attending camp or cruise, performing that travel, or receiving that hospitalization or treatment at the expense of the United States.
  6. Any citizen of the United States who, during any war in which the United States has been engaged, served in the Armed Forces of any government allied with the United States during that war; whose last service ended honorably by death or otherwise; and who was a citizen of the United States at the time of entry into that service and at the time of death.
  7. The spouse, minor child(ren), and certain adult children of those eligible above.
  8. Any person eligible for ground burial.
  9. A former member of a group that has been certified as active military service for the purpose of receiving VA benefits under the provisions of Section 401, Public Law 95-202.

Additional Information:

For more information on burial in Arlington National Cemetery, including provisions for military honors, burial flags, headstones, and grave markers, please visit the ANC web site at:  www.arlingtoncemetery.mil

Document Review Date: 31 May 2012



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