. Arlington Cemetery Burials:
What Families Need to Know About Military Honors & Protocol
Burying a loved one at Arlington National Cemetery is one of the highest honors an American military family can experience. It is a place of profound history, quiet dignity, and deep respect. However, many families facing the loss of a veteran are unsure how the process works or who qualifies for placement in these sacred grounds. This is a guide.
Navigating the rules during a time of intense grief can feel overwhelming. This comprehensive guide breaks down the eligibility criteria, required paperwork, scheduling steps, and ceremonial protocols to give your family complete clarity and peace of mind.
Arlington Cemetery Burials: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Military Families
Eligibility for Arlington Cemetery Burials
The first step is understanding who can be laid to rest at Arlington. It is important to know that Arlington National Cemetery is managed directly by the Department of the Army, rather than the Department of Veterans Affairs. Because of this, it has its own unique and strict set of rules.
In general, full in-ground casket burial is reserved for active-duty service members, retirees who are receiving military retirement pay, recipients of the highest military awards, and veterans who were highly decorated. However, above-ground placement in a columbarium niche is open to a much broader group, including most veterans who received an honorable discharge after completing a term of active service.
Arlington Cemetery Burials: Navigating the Process, Protocols, and Military Honors
One of the most vital things for families to understand is that Arlington does not operate on a standard civilian funeral timeline. You cannot schedule a service here within a few days of a loved one’s passing.
The Realistic Timeline for Arlington Cemetery Burials
Because thousands of families request placement each year, and because arranging full military honors requires immense coordination across different branches of service, wait times are substantial. It typically takes anywhere from several weeks to several months to officially schedule and conduct a service.
Managing the Intermediary Wait Time
- This extended timeline means families must plan for an intermediary step. If you choose a traditional casket burial, your local civilian funeral home will need to safely hold and care for the deceased’s body until Arlington assigns an official date.
- If you choose cremation, the process is slightly simpler logistically. The family will receive the ashes from the local crematory and keep the urn safely at home until the scheduled date arrives. Advance knowledge of this timeline helps families prepare emotionally for the wait.
Phase 1: Gathering the Bulletproof Paperwork
Arlington National Cemetery will not schedule a funeral service on its official calendar until every single piece of required documentation is submitted, reviewed, and verified. To prevent delays, it is best to gather these original documents and place them in a secure folder as early as possible.
The Document Checklist
- The DD Form 214: This is the mandatory military discharge document. For retired officers and enlisted personnel, it must clearly show an Honorable Discharge and explicitly state that the veteran was entitled to receive military retirement pay.
- The Death Certificate: This will be issued by the state medical examiner or health department shortly after the passing occurs.
- The Cremation Certificate: If you have selected cremation, this document must accompany the urn.
- Name Match Verification: Check every document carefully to ensure that the name and date of birth on the death certificate perfectly match the official DD-214 form.
Phase 2: Activating the Request
When a loved one passes away, the process to request a service can be initiated in two ways. A local civilian funeral director can handle the initial outreach on your behalf, or you can do it directly as the Primary Next of Kin.
First, contact the Arlington National Cemetery Customer Service Center scheduling line at 1-877-907-8585. The representative will take your initial details and assign you a specific tracking case number.
Submitting Your Application
- Once you have your case number, you or your funeral director must email all the gathered paperwork to arlingtoncemetery.isb@army.mil.
- Be sure to write the case number clearly in the email’s subject line.
After submission, Arlington’s eligibility team will verify the service records. Once authorization is granted, a scheduler will call the family directly to coordinate, select an open date, and finalize the funeral arrangements.
Phase 3: Honors and Entitlements for Arlington Cemetery Burials
The military honors rendered at the cemetery are based strictly on the veteran’s rank and branch of service. For high-ranking officers, such as a retired U.S. Navy Captain or equivalent, the family can expect Military Funeral Honors with Funeral Escort. This is a majestic, ceremonial service provided entirely at no cost to the family.
Ceremonial Elements Included
- A Casket Team: A synchronized military detail of body bearers to carry the casket or urn with absolute precision.
- A Firing Party: A dedicated multi-member detail that fires a rhythmic rifle volley, known traditionally as the 3-volley salute.
- A Bugler: A live military musician who plays the haunting and deeply respectful notes of Taps.
- Flag Presentation: The United States flag draped over the casket will be meticulously folded into a tight triangle and formally presented to the next of kin.
- A Military Band and Escort: A full live marching band from the veteran’s military branch, alongside a marching platoon that escorts the procession.
- The Caisson: Eligible high-ranking officers may receive the historic horse-drawn caisson to carry the casket through the grounds, subject to daily availability.
- An Arlington Lady: A dedicated volunteer representative from the specific branch of service will attend and hand-deliver a personalized, handwritten condolence card to the grieving family.
Phase 4: What to Expect on the Day of the Service When Honoring Our Heroes at Arlington Cemetery Burials
Arlington National Cemetery runs with military precision, handling up to 30 services every single day. Because the schedule is so tight, the sequence on the day of the funeral is completely rigid. Families are expected to follow directions exactly.
EVERYONE: HAVE YOUR PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTATION WITH YOU AND READY TO SHOW. Families and guests must arrive at the cemetery via Memorial Avenue at least 45 minutes before the scheduled start time. Upon your arrival, gate guards will check everyone’s identification. Then, they’ll direct all vehicles into a specific, numbered parking lane dedicated solely to your loved one’s service.
The Arlington Cemetery Burial Procession and Committal Service
The next of kin will be escorted into the Administration Building’s private family room. There, an assigned cemetery representative will walk the family through the procession map and answer any last-minute questions.
Following this briefing, guests will return to their vehicles. The cemetery representative will lead the drivers. The entire line of cars will drive in a slow, solemn procession behind the military escort to the final gravesite or columbarium niche. The committal service itself is brief but deeply impactful, lasting precisely 20 to 30 minutes. A military chaplain will speak, final honors will be rendered, Taps will play, and the flag will be presented.
Financial Realities of Arlington Cemetery Burials
Many families initially worry about the financial burden associated with a world-renowned national cemetery. It brings immense peace of mind to know that Arlington National Cemetery does not charge the family a single penny for its services.
The following items are provided completely free of charge as a final thank you from a grateful nation.
- gravesite
- the columbarium niche
- labor to open and close the grave
- a standard government-issued headstone or niche cover
- full military honors.
The only financial costs the family will incur are the independent fees charged by their chosen civilian funeral home. This includes:
- the initial preparation of the body
- the purchase of a casket or urn
- transportation to the cemetery gates.
Gathering your loved one’s DD-214 form today ensures that when the time comes, your family can step forward with total control, dignity, and peace.
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