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This post answers the question about who can be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
We go over the rules and requirements for in-ground burial, which are the most stringent of any national military cemetery in the country.
We also cover the rules and requirements for above-ground inurnments in the columbarium or niche wall.
Let’s get started.
The rules and requirements for burial at Arlington National Cemetery have been tightened in recent years as more and more veterans want to be buried at Arlington.
There are between 25 and 30 funerals every weekday at Arlington
One of the most popular questions that visitors have about the Cemetery is how does one qualify to be buried there.
Here are the basic qualifications for in-ground burial (interment):
Arlington National Cemetery also has a large columbarium, which houses cremated remains.
The requirements for inurnment, as it is called, are much less stringent and anyone who qualifies for burial can also be inurned in the columbarium.
However, essentially anyone who has served in the military, including the reserves, and has been honorably discharged can be inurned in the columbarium.
All fees associated with either internment or inurnment, including the funeral costs, are paid by the Army, so there is no cost to a veteran or his or her family.
Be sure to read our full guide on Arlington National Cemetery, and if you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing it with your friends and family.
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Stephen is the CEO of Free Tours by Foot and has overseen the transformation of a local walking tour company into a global tour community and traveler’s advice platform. He has personally led thousands of group tours in the US and Europe, and is an expert in trip planning and sightseeing, with a focus on budget travelers.
Stephen has been published and featured in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Yahoo, Washington.org, and more.