ANC's Updated COVID Procedures Begin May 24

5/21/2021

ARLINGTON, VA—Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) is announcing several further developments in its ongoing efforts to fully reopen its services and sites. The expanded activities and protocols are highlighted below.

Consistent with the new CDC guidance, ANC will still require persons who are not fully vaccinated to practice the safety procedures recommended by the CDC – such as wearing face coverings and maintaining physical distancing – while visiting the cemetery or attending a service. There is now no limit to the number of funeral attendees at graveside services, although there is still a limit to 50 mourners inside the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Old Post Chapel and two family members inside the ANC administration building.

Charles “Ray” Alexander, Jr., Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery, said, “We continue to follow the most up to date CDC guidelines and DoD regulations. ANC is a safe environment, and we are pleased COVID conditions have improved enough that we may fully reopen to the public. We greatly missed everyone and our staff and the Tomb Sentinels miss sharing the cemetery’s rich history to our visitors.”

ANC VISITATION PROTOCOL

The following operational protocols will be implemented beginning May 24, 2021:

On the grounds of ANC:

  • The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and President John F. Kennedy’s Gravesite will now be fully opened with freely moving pedestrian traffic patterns.

  • The exhibits in Memorial Amphitheater and the Welcome Center exhibits will now be open. (Face masks are required at indoor venues)

  • At this time, the Memorial Amphitheater bowl remains closed for restoration work.

  • Guests who visit any indoor facility are required to wear face coverings.

  • Masks must be worn in all restroom facilities.

  • Masks are no longer required when visitors are outdoors.

  • The Welcome Center Bookstore will resume indoor operations on May 27, 2021.

  • Arlington Cemetery Metro Stop reopened for public use on May 23, 2021.

Visitor Screening

  • Visitor screening will continue to be conducted either inside or outside the Welcome Center. ANC would like to remind visitors entering the cemetery through other than official access points is considered trespassing and is a Federal offense.

Outreach

  • Public wreath ceremonies will resume on May 24, 2021.

The following operational conditions remain the same:

Access Within ANC

  • ANC’s normal operating hours are: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Access Upon Arrival to ANC:

  • Visitors may enter the cemetery on Memorial Avenue and park in the parking garage or pedestrians may go directly to the screening lanes at the Welcome Center.

  • The ANC parking garage is available to passenger cars and buses.

  • The 123 gate is open to family pass holders only.

  • The Ord and Weitzel gate (near the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial) is now open.

  • Department of Defense (DoD) ID card holders may also enter through the Old Post Chapel gate.

Visitor Screening:

  • An ADA accessibility and stroller visitor screening lane will be at the Welcome Center East Entrance.

Karen Durham-Aguilera, Executive Director, Office of Army National Cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery, states, “Over the last year, it was important we continued to uphold Arlington’s sacred mission of laying our nation’s veterans to rest. We are very happy families and visitors are able to have a full visitor’s experience to Honor, Remember, and Explore. Additionally, everyone will now be able to participate in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration programs in person, as they visit the exhibits in the Welcome Center and Memorial Amphitheater Display Room and the special programs offered by our Historians.”

Virtual visitation remains available through the ANC Education Program: https://education.arlingtoncemetery.mil/. Audiences of all ages may discover learning modules on topics such as African American History at ANC, the Spanish-American War, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

For more information, please visit @ArlingtonNatl on social media or contact our call center at 877-907-8585

 

 

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