ARLINGTON, Va. – Officials announced the award of a bus tour service concession contract to Arlington National Cemetery Tours, Inc., a subsidiary of Old Town Trolley Tours of Washington, Inc.
The new contract, effective Jan. 1, 2015, will replace the existing service managed by the National Park Service. Last year, Congress gave Arlington National Cemetery the authority to provide tour service. The new vendor will initially cover the same route as the previous contractor, but will expand to include additional stops near the Ord & Weitzel walking gate, U.S. Army General John Pershing’s gravesite, and the Coast Guard Memorial. Weekend service will expand to include stops near sections 60 and 55.
“Arlington National Cemetery is America’s premier military cemetery and national treasure. We are pleased that that the new interpretive bus tour will cover a larger portion of the cemetery. Arlington is 624 acres and it’s difficult to walk to the outer parts of the cemetery. The new contract will allow public to explore more of Arlington’s rich history and visit portions of the cemetery they couldn’t otherwise,” said Patrick K. Hallinan, executive director of Army National Military Cemeteries.
The new vendor will offer discounts for active duty military personnel and veterans. Military personnel in uniform and those with valid government-issued handicapped identification can ride the tour for free. Arlington National Cemetery Tours will accept payment online, in the Welcome Center, and at shuttle stops. More information on pricing and reservations can be found at http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Plan-Your-Visit/Tours-and-Groups/Tours.
Arlington National Cemetery Tours is part of the family of tour companies and attractions of Historic Tours of America® headquartered in Key West, Fla., with operations in Key West, Fla., St. Augustine, Fla., Savannah, Ga., Washington D.C., Boston, Mass., and San Diego, Calif.
Arlington National Cemetery is committed to honoring the legacy of our fallen heroes, veterans and their families through dignified military interment services. The work that Arlington is undertaking today will further enable the cemetery to be a place for people to Honor, Remember and Explore this nation’s rich history well into the future.
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