Veterans Day National Observance - Arlington National Cemetery

Each year on Veterans Day, the National Veterans Day Observance Ceremony is held at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Beginning at 11 a.m., a wreath is placed at the Tomb of the Unknowns in an Armed Forces Full Honor Wreath-Laying Ceremony conducted by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington. Following the wreath-laying ceremony, the Department of Veterans Affairs hosts an observance program in the Memorial Amphitheater, ending at around noon. This annual free ceremony is one of only three yearly special events open to the public at Arlington National Cemetery.

Veterans Day, always observed on November 11th, falls on a Wednesday in 2009. The Arlington National Cemetery Visitors Center parking lot provides free Veterans Day parking from at 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. For visitors arriving by Metro, the Visitors Center is about a quarter mile walk from the Arlington National Cemetery stop on the Blue Line. Because walking to the Memorial Amphitheater is prohibited, free shuttle buses provide transportation between the Visitors Center and the ceremony. Attendees are required to pass through a security checkpoint to gain access to the ceremony. Be sure to make a note about prohibited items, which include:

• large bags or backpacks
  
• firearms and weapons of any type
  
• laser pointers
  
• aerosol containers
  
• soda cans and bottled water
  
• umbrellas
  
• coolers and insulated beverage containers
  
• picnic baskets
  
• tripods
  
• lighters
  
• personal protection sprays

Space is limited to standing room only for the wreath-laying ceremony. Seating in the Amphitheater is limited and first come - first served, so it is advisable to plan to arrive early. Traditionally, a prelude concert begins at about 10:30 a.m. before the ceremony. For additional information, visit the Arlington National Cemetery Website.

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^{Photo of Veterans Day 2008: Courtesy of Arlington National Cemetery}