REAL ID REQUIREMENTS AS OF MAY 7
Beginning May 7, 2025, all individuals over the age of 18 who are authorized to drive onto Arlington National Cemetery in a vehicle should be prepared to present a REAL ID at the security checkpoint. This applies to funeral attendees, family pass holders, honor flights, contractors who do not possess a Department of Defense (DoD) Common Access Card (CAC) or an Automated Installation (AIE) badge, family-hired photographers and florists who drive into the cemetery via Memorial Avenue, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall or the Service Complex Gate.
Visitors who arrive by vehicle and park in the Welcome Center parking garage, walk, take the Metro or use a ride share service to ANC will not be required to present a REAL ID, as they will be required to go through standard physical security screening within the Welcome Center.
► Click here for more information.
Request a Ceremony
Arlington National Cemetery offers the following opportunities to conduct public ceremonies. To avoid delays in scheduling, please read carefully to ensure that you request the appropriate ceremony for your group.
All ceremonies are scheduled based on the discretion of Arlington National Cemetery. All ceremonies are scheduled based on time, location, appropriateness and availability. They are also subject to cancellation or rescheduling due to official U.S. government ceremonies, inclement weather or other unforeseen occurrences.
Public Wreath Ceremonies may be requested up to 180 days in advance. The online system begins accepting requests as early as 7 p.m. ET the evening before the 180 day period.
Initiate a Ceremony Request
Public Wreath Ceremonies
A group may honor U.S. veterans and members of the armed forces by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Public wreath ceremonies are limited to one per group per day, with a maximum of four participants in the ceremony. The wreath for the ceremony is provided by the participants.
► Request a public wreath ceremony.
► Learn more about wreath layings.
► If you are participating in a wreath ceremony, please consult the dress code for public wreath ceremonies.
Honor Flights
The Honor Flight Network brings veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit their respective war memorials. In addition, honor flights often visit Arlington National Cemetery to witness the changing of the guard and to pay their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Requests for honor flights are accepted six months to a year in advance of the group's visit, but must be submitted at least two weeks in advance. Arlington National Cemetery grants special access to honor flight participants on account of these veterans' age and mobility challenges. Other groups conducting similar trips may be granted special access on a case-by-case basis.
► Request an honor flight or special access ceremony.
Other Ceremonies
Other ceremonies may be conducted elsewhere on the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery. Families may hold a memorial ceremony at the grave of a loved one; veterans' groups may hold a ceremony at the memorial marker honoring their unit or fallen comrades. Ceremonies may also honor the anniversary of a battle or other significant event.
► Request a ceremony (other than a public wreath ceremony or honor flight/special access ceremony).