National Cemetery Traditions

Arlington National Cemetery is a 639-acre military cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. More than 400,000 people are buried there, including veterans of every American war, and its traditions, from the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to the flags placed on every grave before Memorial Day, are among the best known in the country.

Arlington is not part of the Department of Veterans Affairs system. It is run by the U.S. Army, while the VA operates 157 national cemeteries and 35 soldiers' lots and monument sites in 44 states and Puerto Rico. Both honor military service, and both use the same core burial customs: an honor guard detail, a rifle salute and the playing of “Taps”.

Where Is Arlington National Cemetery?

Arlington National Cemetery is in Arlington County, Virginia, directly across the Potomac from the Lincoln Memorial. It is one of the most visited cemeteries in the country, and it is open to the public daily except on certain federal holidays. Check the cemetery's official website for current hours before you visit.

Who Is Buried at Arlington National Cemetery?

More than 400,000 service members, veterans and their eligible family members are buried at Arlington. Two U.S. presidents rest there: John F. Kennedy, whose grave is marked by an eternal flame and shares the hillside with his wife Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, and William Howard Taft, who was also the 10th Chief Justice of the United States. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall is buried at Arlington as well, along with astronauts, diplomats and countless service members who never held public office.

Burial at Arlington has stricter eligibility rules than a VA national cemetery, and the cemetery often holds 24 to 27 funeral services on a typical weekday. If you are weighing where a veteran should be buried, our guide on what to do when a veteran dies walks through the steps and the benefits available.

Arlington National Cemetery Traditions

Arlington hosts ceremonies throughout the year, and visitors are welcome at most of them. These are the most significant.

The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The Changing of the Guard is a precisely choreographed ceremony held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a marble memorial to unidentified service members who died in war. Sentinels from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, guard the Tomb 24 hours a day, in every kind of weather. The ceremony takes place once an hour in the cooler months and every half hour in the summer.

During the ceremony, the relief commander announces the change and asks spectators to stand in silence. The relieving sentinel inspects the rifle of the sentinel being replaced, and the new sentinel then walks 21 steps across the mat, turns and faces the Tomb for 21 seconds. The number 21 echoes the 21-gun salute, the highest honor given at a military funeral.

Flags In

Flags In is held shortly before Memorial Day weekend. Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment place a small American flag at the grave of every service member buried at Arlington and at the U.S. Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery in Washington, DC, along with the niche rows and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. That is hundreds of thousands of flags, and they are removed again after Memorial Day. If you would like to honor a veteran's grave yourself, see our step-by-step guide to placing a flag on a veteran's grave.

Memorial Day

Every Memorial Day the cemetery holds an Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, followed by a service at the Memorial Amphitheater. Music is traditionally provided by a military band, and the President of the United States customarily takes part in the observance and usually gives remarks. Thousands of visitors attend each year.

Veterans Day

On Veterans Day, November 11, Arlington holds a similar program in honor of the nation's veterans. It begins with an Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the late morning and continues with an observance at the Memorial Amphitheater. Visitors are welcome to attend.

Planning a Military Funeral

Families planning a funeral for a veteran or service member often have to decide on a cemetery, a casket and the details of military honors in a very short time. Titan Concierge offers free funeral planning help with those decisions, and its funeral concierge services can walk you through the paperwork. You can also browse our military caskets if you want to see options for a veteran.