Who may be buried at Arlington?

Title

Identifier

Last call

Language

English

Source

Panorama Volume XII (No. 2) February 1960

Year

1960

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

Last call WHO MAY BE BURIED AT ARLINGTON? Technically, Arlington Na tional Cemetery, in Virginia, is on exactly tne same foot ing as the 96 other federally sup ported cemeteries in the united States and its possessions. All are reserved for men and women who have been on active duty with the armed forces of the United States or of a wartime ally, their wives or husbands, and their de pendent children, and all operate under the same rules. There are no geographical restrictions; a qualified person may be buried in any national cemetery. But Arlington, for a number of reasons, has become an unofficial national shrine. It’s located direct ly across the Potomac from the nation’s capital. The three Un known Soldiers, of World War I and of World War II and of Korea, are buried there. So are General John J. Pershing, Admi ral Richard E. Byrd, and thou sands of other servicemen from every war since the Revolution. It is also the largest of the na tional cemeteries (408 acres) and one of the most beautiful. It’s not possible to make an application for /\rlington in ad vance. When a serviceman or veteran for whom burial there is desired dies, a member of the family or the funeral director wires the superintendent of the cemetery, requesting burial for the deceased ana giving details of his military record. (His last service must nave terminated honorably, and he must have been a U.S. citizen at the time.) The super intendent makes all arrangements, a process that usually takes up to two working days. The widow of a man buried ■ at Arlington may also be bu ried there, provided she has not remarried. So may a dependent child—one who was under 18 and unmarried at the time of death or who, though over 18, was un married and incapable of selfsupport. A wife or child who precedes 34 Panorama a service member in death may also be buried at Arlington, if the husband or father signs a state ment that he eventually intends to be buried in the same or an adjoining grave. No family may have more than two grave sites. Children are bu ried in the same grave with either parent. (The first casket is low ered; subsequent ones are placed on top of it.) A site adjoining her husband’s may be reserved, at the time of his death, by his widow; she must renew her request every two years. But even if she fails to do this, she may still be buried in an adjoining site, if it’s avail able, or in the grave with her husband. As at other national cemeteries, burial at Arlington is free. There is no charge for the plot or for the simple, uniform headstone placed on the grave. The family, however, pays funeral expenses up to the time the casket reaches the cemetery. Servicemen and veterans are buried with military honors. The funeral cortege is escorted from the gates of the cemetery to the ¥ grave site, where it is met by a military guard of honor, who act as pallbearers. During the brief committal service, conducted by a chaplain of the dead person’s faith, the pallbearers hold an American flag over the casket; at the close, they fold it and give it to the chaplain, who presents it to the next of kin. A rifle squad then fires a farewell salute, and a bugler plays Taps. Officers of high rank or officers or men who have per formed especially meritorious serv ice are often awarded further honors, such as a caisson, drawn by matched horses, to bear the casket to the grave, a band with muffled drums, and an 11- to 17gun salute, depending on rank. Mot everyone entitled to burial at Arlington exercises his privilege—fortunately, or the cemetery would soon be over crowded. Many prefer private bu rial. Others prefer a national ce metery nearer home, where the grave can be visited frequently. The expense of providing trans portation to Arlington is another factor that keeps burials within bounds.—Good Housekeeping. ¥ ¥ Drag Him In "Does Sullivan live here?” they asked. “Sure and he do,” she replied. “Just carry him in” * February 1960 35

pages

34+

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