Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington Washington DC Pixabay Public Domain
By providing a peaceful, beautiful landscape for visitors, the Arlington National Cemetery strives to honor the lives and legacies of those who served their country with distinction. The 624-acre cemetery is serenely manicured with centuries-old trees, gorgeous gardens, and honorable monuments and memorials for those who have fallen.
More than 400,000 individuals found their last resting place among the iconic white headstones at Arlington including notable names such as Washington, D.C. city designer Captain Charles Pierre L’Enfant, Justice Thurgood Marshall, President Taft, and novelist Dashiell Hammett. Bus service and walking tours are available for interpretive, informational tours of the popular landmarks such as the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, the Sept. 11 Memorial, and the gravesite of U.S. Army Gen. John J. Pershing. Visit President John F. Kennedy’s gravesite and see where the Eternal Flame burns at the head of his stone. See the changing of the guard at the famed and poignant Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and then visit the Arlington House (Robert E. Lee Memorial). Annual memorial services take place at the Memorial Amphitheater every Easter, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day.
The Welcome Center is open daily and provides visitors with cemetery maps, informational brochures, a bookstore, and a life-size bugler figure playing “Taps.” The Arlington National Cemetery is open daily for visitors who wish to pay their respects and learn the history of one of the country’s largest and most notable cemeteries.
