Burial In Arlington National Cemetery

BURIAL IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Because of limited space, burials at Arlington National Cemetery are restricted to specific categories of honorably discharged U.S. service men and women. These categories are:

Service members who have died while on active duty.
Service members having at least 20 years of active duty or active reserve service which qualifies them for retired pay, either upon retirement or at age 60, and those retired for disability.
Veterans honorably discharged for 30 percent (or more) disability before Oct.1, 1949.
Holders of the nation's highest military decorations (Medal of Honor; Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star or the Purple Heart.
Former prisoners of war, or missing in action.
The spouse or unmarried minor (under 21 years) of any of the above.
An unmarried adult child with physical or mental disability acquired up to age 21.
The president of the United States, as the armed forces commander-in-chief.
Cabinet officials and Supreme Court justices who are appointed by the president, provided they have an honorable military background.
Members of Congress, provided they have an honorable military background.
Any nationally elected official, provided they have an honorable military background.

Service members who do not meet these requirements may qualify for inurnment in the cemetery's columbarium complex, which houses cremated remains. Any honorably discharged veteran, spouse and dependent children may be inurned in the same family niche.

Space assignment in Arlington National Cemetery is assigned only when there is need. No site can be reserved and only one grave site will be assigned per family. If a spouse or eligible child dies first, space will be assigned for the spouse's or child's interment, provided the service member agrees in writing to be buried in the same site.

There is no charge for a grave (or columbarium niche) in Arlington National Cemetery, for opening or closing a grave or for a government headstone or marker. Except for active duty service members, all other costs must be borne by the family.

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