Arlington National Cemetery to Hold Annual Wreaths Out Event on Saturday, Jan. 11

1/6/2025

ARLINGTON, VA – Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) and Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery (SAHNC) in Washington, D.C. will hold their annual removal of wreaths, known as Wreaths Out, on Saturday, Jan. 11, beginning at 8 a.m.

Thousands of visitors are expected to help remove approximately 257,000 wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery and approximately 14,000 at SAHNC. The high volume of visitors at ANC may create traffic congestion and delays on nearby streets and at the cemetery’s entrances.

“We sincerely thank our volunteers and community members who join us at Arlington National Cemetery for the cherished tradition of Wreaths Out. This is a meaningful endeavor to return the cemetery to its traditional condition that would not be possible without your support,” said Army National Military Cemeteries Executive Director Karen Durham-Aguilera.

Our top priority is the safety and security of our visitors and employees during this event. Visitors should anticipate large crowds and difficulty driving vehicles in the vicinity of Arlington National Cemetery due to road closures. Visitors are encouraged to use all four entrances to access the cemetery: the Memorial Avenue Welcome Center, the Ord and Weitzel Gate (near the Marine Corps War Memorial), the Service Complex Gate (near the Air Force Memorial) and, for DoD cardholders, the Old Post Chapel Gate.

Vehicular access on cemetery grounds will not be permitted until normal operations resume. The Welcome Center parking garage will open to the public at 8 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Since we cannot predict when we will return to normal operations, there will be no visitor tram service on Saturday. The gravesite shuttle will resume once the cemetery returns to normal operations.

We recommend that visitors use public transportation or a ride share service for travel to and from the cemetery. The drop-off location for ride share services is adjacent to the Arlington Cemetery Metro Stop on Memorial Avenue.

All visitors must pass through security screening before entering the cemetery. Prohibited items include: large bags or backpacks, firearms and weapons of any type, laser pointers, aerosol containers, soda cans, coolers, picnic baskets, tripods, lighters, screwdrivers (or similar tools), air horns, personal protection sprays and insulated beverage containers. Clear plastic water bottles are permitted.


Guidance for Visitors

•  Give vehicles and heavy equipment the right of way.

•  Remove Wreaths Across America wreaths only. Leave all other wreaths/decorations in place.

•  Place wreaths in dumpsters positioned throughout the cemetery.

•  When dumpsters are filled, carry remaining wreaths to unfilled dumpsters. Please do not place wreaths outside of dumpsters or anywhere else in the cemetery.

•  Please follow instructions from staff to ensure the safety of visitors.


For the latest information and event details, please visit our Wreaths Across America Page and follow us on social media @ArlingtonNatl for real-time updates on the event day. Visitors are also encouraged to download the ANC Explorer mobile app, available for iOS and Android.