Arlington National Cemetery Storm Damage
As a result of the severe weather on Friday, June 29, 2012, Arlington National Cemetery suffered storm damage comparable to Hurricane Irene. Arlington National Cemetery continues to assess the extent of the damage and has started on the restoration.
Arlington lost three of its oldest trees in the cemetery – two white oaks in Section 1 and a red oak in Section 27. It is estimated that these trees were between 225 to 240 years old. In total, Arlington National Cemetery lost eight large trees in Sections 1, 3, 12, 13, 27, and 36. There are 17 additional trees that are damaged to the point they will need to be removed.
Cemetery clean-up crews have been working since Saturday to cut and remove the large and small fallen trees, to clean up debris from tree limbs, and to remove small uprooted saplings. Other damage included a very small number broken headstones that were damaged from falling trees. New headstones will be reordered and will be reset to Arlington National Cemetery’s exacting standards. While visiting Arlington National Cemetery, please contact the cemetery’s customer call center for assistance at 1-877-907-8585 should you see damage to your loved one’s headstone or gravesite.