Changing of the Guard: Seasonal Schedule

From Oct. 1 through March 31, the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier takes place once an hour, on the hour. Guard changes at 30-minute intervals will resume in April. 

Published on: Tuesday, October 1, 2024 read more ...

 10/7/2015

Facts About Section 27

Section 27 sign

Pvt. William Henry Christman, 67th Pennsylvania Infantry, first military service man interred in Arlington National Cemetery, May 13, 1864.

Pvt. William H. McKinney, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, interred Friday, May 13, 1864 (age 17, first to have family present at funeral).

Pvt. William Reeves, 76th New York Infantry, first draftee interred, May 13, 1864.

Pvt. William Blatt, 49th Pennsylvania Infantry, first battle casualty interred, Saturday, May 14, 1864.

Two Unknown Union Soldiers were interred on May 15, 1864. They were the first of nearly 5,000 unknowns now resting in Arlington National Cemetery.

The first graves in Arlington National Cemetery were dug by James Parks, a former Arlington Estate slave. He is buried in Section 15. James Parks is the only person buried in Arlington National Cemetery, who was born on the property.

About 1,500 United States Colored Troops are interred in section 27. The first black combat soldiers of the Civil War.

Nearly 3,800 "citizens" or "contrabands" (former slaves who were living in government facilities and settlements in the Washington, D.C. region) are interred in Section 27. Citizen or civilian is inscribed on their headstones. No residents of Freedman's Village are buried in Section 27.

Four Medal of Honor recipients are interred in Section 27.

Landsman William H. Brown, on the USS Brooklyn, U.S. Navy (27- 565-A) Civil War

Sgt. James H. Harris, 38th U.S. Colored Troops, U.S. Army (27-985-H) Civil War

Pvt. James Richmond, 8th Ohio Infantry, U.S. Army (27-886). Pvt. Richmond captured the flag at Gettysburg. Civil War

Sgt. Thomas Shaw, 9th U.S. Cavalry, U.S. Army (27-952-B) Indian Campaigns (1881)