Arlington National Cemetery, Our Nation's Sacred Shrine....Who Is Eligible for Burial There?

Every American should visit Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place of many of our country's military. We should honor and never forget their sacrifice. Whether killed in action or dying after their service, our veterans are to be remembered.

Arlington National Cemetery has been called our nation's most sacred and saddest place. One cannot be unaffected by the sheer number of graves. The cemetery is located across the Potomac River from Washington DC. It is a military cemetery established in 1864 during the Civil War, as a final resting place for soldiers whose families could not afford to bring their bodies back to their home town.

It is located on a 614 acre site which once belonged to the family of Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Custis Lee, a descendant of Martha Washington. The site was purchased by the government for use as a burial ground, following non-payment of taxes by General Lee after he left to join the Confederacy. Presently over 310.00 people are buried there. It is expected there is enough space for burials until 2060 and there are also niches built that will hold100,000 cremains.

Veterans and military casualties from every one of our nation's wars, from the Civil War up to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan are buried there. There is a special section where many Nurses are buried. The Nurses Memorial is located there. Guide maps are available at the visitors' center.

Flags are flown at half staff from a half hour before the first funeral until a half hour after the last funeral each day. Funerals are conducted on weekdays, not on weekends. Funerals and interments average over 20 a day, approximately 6,400 burials a year.

There is a long list of qualifications for burial in Arlington National Cemetery. Nearly all of the qualifications list military service or being related to someone with military service as requirements

Burial Eligibility Requirements........... To be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, one must have been

* an active duty soldier or retired member of the U.S. Armed Forces

* a veteran who was awarded either the Purple Heart, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Medal or Medal of Honor

* President or former President of the United States

* Former member of the Armed Forces who served as elected official or justice of the Supreme Court

* The spouse's widow, widower or minor child of an active duty or veteran member of the Armed Force.

* A former POW who served honorably

There are also non veterans buried there because of distinguished service performed honoring their country. Notables buried at Arlington include

Big band leader, Glen Miller, detective writer, Dashell Hammet, civil rights leader, Medgar Evers, boxer, Joe Louis and 16 astronauts.

To Arrange a Burial:.....A surviving spouse or personal representative of the deceased should make hometown arrangements with a local funeral home director , who can then contact the Internment Office at Arlington National Cemetery at (703) 607-8585. Upon determining eligibility of the deceased, the cemetery staff will schedule the internment..

There is no cost for the burial, but the estate is responsible for the costs of preparing and shipping the remains to the cemetery. If the deceased was killed while on active duty these costs may be waived.

Sources:

Personal Experience

Wikipedia

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/funeral-information/guide.atneed.html