Wreaths Out on January 22

1/14/2022

ARLINGTON, VA—Nearly 38,000 members of the public placed 257,000 wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery last month for National Wreaths Across America Day. Next week, these wreaths will be retired.

On Saturday, January 22, the public is invited to participate in the dignified removal of these wreaths. This event, Wreaths Out, will begin at 8 a.m.

The cemetery will remain open to the public. However, there will be no vehicle access, to include family pass holders, inside the cemetery until 3 p.m. The cemetery closes at 5 p.m.

The ANC parking garage will be open to the public starting at 8 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional parking will be available at the Pentagon South Parking Lot.

The Arlington Cemetery Metro stop will be open. Metro’s exact travel times and travel tips can be found in the trip planner here: https://www.wmata.com/.

The drop off and pick up locations for rideshares and taxis will be adjacent to the Arlington Cemetery Metro stop on Memorial Avenue.

The public may enter the cemetery through a few different gates for Wreaths Out: the main entrance on Memorial Ave near the Arlington Cemetery Metro stop and the ANC parking garage, the Ord & Weitzel Gate near the Rosslyn Metro stop, South Gate near the Pentagon South Parking Lot, and the Old Post Chapel Gate on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall for DoD ID card holders only.

There are 100% ID checks at all entrances. All visitors 18 years of age and older must present a valid state or government-issued photo identification upon entering the cemetery. Visitors 16 and 17 years old may present a school-issued identification for entry.

Due to ANC’s current higher level of Health Protection Conditions because of rising COVID-19 cases in the DC metro area, the ANC Welcome Center off of Memorial Avenue will be open for visitor screening only. The Welcome Center exhibits and bookstore will be closed in order to minimize the number of visitors indoors. The gravesite shuttle and the tram service will also not operate for the day. Face coverings are mandatory inside any building at ANC, regardless of vaccination status. To learn more about COVID-19 measures at ANC, please visit our COVID page.

Wreaths Out will also begin on Jan. 22 at 8 a.m. at the Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Click here to learn more about this cemetery.  

Tips for Volunteers

•  To aid with the removal of multiple wreaths, the public is permitted to bring in PVC pipe, rope, and broomsticks. No sharp objects are permitted. Any attachments at the end of a stick, such as a gardening hoe, rake, or metal attachment, must be removed and will not be permitted entry for safety concerns.

•  Bring work gloves, water and other appropriate gear such as boots and layered clothing.

•  Give vehicles and heavy equipment the right of way and let them pass in roadways.

•  Remove only Wreaths Across America veterans’ wreaths. Leave all other wreaths or decorations in place.

•  Place wreaths in dumpsters positioned throughout the cemetery.

•  When dumpsters are filled, do not pile wreaths next to them. Carry wreaths to unfilled dumpsters.

•  Do not jump or climb on wreaths in dumpsters to compress them.