Welcome to the Official Web Site of Arlington National Cemetery. Our presence on the Web began in April of 2000. New facts, features, information and photos are being added on a regular basis. One feature I am particularly fond of is the photo of the week. Please return often.

Of course, a visit over the Internet is not the same experience as coming in person to Arlington, the most hallowed burial ground of our fallen military and one of the most visited tourist sites in the Washington, D.C., area. My hope is that you will some day visit the cemetery in person. When you do, may I suggest spending at least two hours to visit and pay your respects to the many special persons interred here, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Kennedy grave site.

There are veterans and other exceptional individuals buried at Arlington from the Revolutionary War to the present military action in Iraq and Afghanistan. Biographical and other historical information is or will be included on our Web site, to bring this shrine — and the sacrifice of those buried here — closer to the American people.

Since May of 1864, Arlington has been a fully operational National Cemetery. Today, we are actively involved with the burial of military casualties from the Iraqi and Afghanistan war fronts, as well as the aging World War II veterans. Overall, daily funerals average about 27 each workday. As a reminder to our visitors, please respect these funeral services as you travel through the grounds of Arlington.

Construction Update: On December 9, 2008, we completed Phase II of a 40 acre land development project, which added a half-mile new stone wall along Route 110. The new wall includes 6,573 niches on the inside. The Millennium Project, which will develop new grave sites and columbarium courts on the western edge of the cemetery, will complete its first phase of construction in January 2009. Phase II will start later this year.

The Secretary of the Army approved a new policy, effective January 1, 2009, that authorizes all soldiers killed in action by the enemy and who are being interred, inurned or memorialized at Arlington National Cemetery the option to receive full military funeral honors. These honors can include a caisson, band and a military escort.

Thank you for your interest in Arlington National Cemetery and have a great visit.

Mr. John C. Metzler, Jr.
Superintendent