Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall to Host Annual Easter Sunrise Service

3/22/2023

The annual National Military Easter Sunrise Service will be held Sunday, April 9 at Arlington National Cemetery’s Memorial Amphitheater and hosted by Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Commander Col. David D. Bowling. The service, which will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m., will also be live streamed on the joint base Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jbmhh.  

The non-denominational Easter Sunrise Service provides a celebration of hope and spiritual enrichment for all who view it. The service begins with a prelude by the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” at 6:15 a.m.

The call to worship begins at 6:30 a.m. and will be given by Chaplain Col. James Foster, Command Chaplain for the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region and Military District of Washington. The Easter message will be delivered by Chaplain Maj. Gen. Thomas E. Solhjem, U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains. Foster said he is looking forward to seeing everyone come out to the amphitheater.

“I am excited about this opportunity for the entire National Capitol Region to celebrate the resurrection of Christ in such a hallowed and respected place as Arlington National Cemetery,” Foster said. “We are pleased to have the cooperation between the chaplain teams of the Army, Navy and Air Force who will all participate in the worship service.”

Amphitheater seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. In case of inclement weather, the in-person service will be canceled, and the event will be live-streamed from the joint base’s Memorial Chapel, located on the Myer campus of the joint base. Arlington National Cemetery gates will open at 5 a.m.

There are two ways to access the cemetery for the service.

General Public (Guests without a Department of Defense ID)

•  Enter ANC via Memorial Avenue and park at the Welcome Center parking garage, where parking is free from 5 to 9 a.m. on Easter Sunday (the fee for parking begins at 9 a.m.).

•  A free shuttle service will transport all guests from the ANC Welcome Center. Guests may not walk to the amphitheater from the parking garage.

DoD ID Card Holders Only

•  Enter Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall via the main gate (Hatfield Gate) and park at Old Post Chapel in the Tri-Services Parking Lot. A free shuttle will transport guests to the amphitheater.

•  DoD ID card holders can also walk into the cemetery from Selfridge Gate. Park in the parking lot across from the Spates Community Club and Conference Center. Selfridge Gate is located directly across from the club. 

•  DoD ID card holders are advised that the Trusted Traveler program at JBM-HH is no longer in effect, and all passengers 18 years of age and older in a vehicle must have a DoD ID or a day pass to enter the base. Please request day passes in advance at https://home.army.mil/jbmhh/index.php/my-fort/all-services/access-gate-info. If approved, applicants will receive an email with their pass to present to the gate guard with their legal ID.

•  Following the service, shuttles will transport guests back to the parking lots. Guests will also have the option of walking back to their parked vehicles.

Prohibited items include backpacks, weapons, alcohol, laser pointers, drones, pop-up tents/quick shades and pets. Certified service animals are welcome. Blankets, seat cushions, chairs, baby strollers, diaper bags and water in clear, plastic bottles are allowed.

For those who choose to view the service online, please access the joint base Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/jbmhh at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, April 9.


Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall is “America’s Post” and is made up of Fort Myer and Henderson Hall in Virginia, and Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. It is the only joint Army and Marine Corps base in the Department of Defense. The installation provides dozens of services and support to tens of thousands of service members, families and retirees, including Soldiers and Marines assigned to the Pentagon as well as ones serving in a variety of locations around the world. The joint base is home to Joint Task Force Headquarters - National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington, the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), the U.S. Army Band and National Defense University. Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall is proud to have a history of innovation and a future of success.

For additional information or if media would like to attend, please contact Public Affairs Officer Sherry Kuiper at 703-967-4782 or sherry.a.kuiper.civ@army.mil.  

For more about JBM-HH, visit https://home.army.mil/jbmhh/index.php.