What happens at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) - Family View

MAPS-DIRECTIONS TO ANC RELATED LOCATIONS:    ((Note: Map (s) follow directions))

Inbound to Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial)

        IWO From North     IWO from South    IWO from West    IWO from East    IWO from DC

 

Murphy's Funeral Home

 

Outbound from Arlington National Cemetery (ANC)   

        ANC to I395 / I95 South   ANC to I66 West    ANC to GWP W/N   ANC to DC Streets

 

Outbound from Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial)

        IWO to ANC Admin Bldg

 

Special PGR-ANC Routes

  1. Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial or IWO):

    IWO - From the North - I270 S or I95 S  (one map - below)

    1. I495 South toward Virginia and the George Washington Parkway
    2. Exit 43-44 onto ramp toward VA-193 / George Washington Memorial Pkwy / Georgetown Pike
    3. Take Exit 43 - George Washington Parkway for 8.8 miles
    4. RIGHT onto Ramp  towards I-66 / US-50 / Roosevelt Bridge / Washington / Rosslyn
    5. Ramp (RIGHT) onto US-50 [Arlington Blvd]  towards US-50 / Rosslyn
    6. Stay on US-50 for 0.1 mi
    7. Exit RIGHT onto Fairfax Drive
    8. At Stop sign at end of ramp, make hard RIGHT (180 degrees) onto Fairfax Drive for 0.3 mi
    9. Turn RIGHT (South) onto  Fort Myer Dr for 0.3 mi
    10. Turn LEFT (East) onto Marshall Dr
    11. Turn LEFT (North) onto Local road for 0.5 mi

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    IWO - From the South - I95 N & I395 N  (2 maps - below)

    1. I95 North to I395 North
    2. I395 North for 8.6 mi
    3. Take Ramp (LEFT) onto SR-27 [Washington Blvd] for 1.0 mi
    4. Turn RIGHT onto Ramp for 0.1 mi towards Pentagon North Parking Entrance
    5. Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto SR-110 [Jefferson Davis Hwy] for 1.0 mi
    6. Turn LEFT (South-West) onto Marshall Dr for 153 yds
    7. Turn RIGHT (North) onto Local road for 0.5 mi

     

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    IWO - From the West - I66 E  (1 map - below)

    1. I66 East toward DC
    2. At exit 75, take Ramp (RIGHT) onto SR-110 [Jefferson Davis Hwy] for 0.5 mi towards VA-110 / Pentagon / Alexandria
    3. Turn RIGHT (West) onto Marshall Dr for 109 yds
    4. Turn RIGHT (North) onto Local road for 0.5 mi

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IWO - From the East - Rte 50 E

Best way is to take I95 south around the bottom of DC

And then take I395 North - see "IWO - From the South"  above

 

IWO - From DC  - 14th Street NW at Constitution

  1. From 14th Street NW (US-1) and Constitution Ave fro 0.8 mi

  2. Take Ramp (LEFT) onto I-395 HOV Lane for 0.9 mi towards US-1 S / Alexandria

  3. Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-395 [US-1] for 0.3 mi

  4. At exit 8B, take Ramp (RIGHT) onto SR-110 [Jefferson Davis Hwy] for 1.8 mi towards VA-110 / I-66 W / Rosslyn

  5. Turn LEFT (South-West) onto Marshall Dr for 153 yds

  6. Turn RIGHT (North) onto Local road(s) for 0.5 mi

  7. Turn LEFT (North) onto Local road(s) for 32 yds

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  1. Murphy's Funeral Home - 4510 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203

    Murphy's From the East on I-66

    1. At exit 71, turn off onto Ramp for 0.2 mi towards VA-120 / Glebe Rd

    2. Turn LEFT (South) onto SR-120 [N Glebe Rd] for 0.5 mi towards VA-120

    3. Bear  RIGHT (West) onto Wilson Blvd for 0.1 mi

    4. Arrive 4510 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203

     

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    Murphy's From the West on I-66

    1. At exit 71, turn RIGHT onto Ramp for 0.4 mi towards Fairfax Dr / VA-120 / VA-237 / Glebe Rd

    2. Turn RIGHT (South) onto SR-120 [N Glebe Rd] for 0.2 mi

    3. RIGHT (West) onto Wilson Blvd for 0.1 mi

    4. Arrive

     

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  1. Outbound from Arlington National Cemetery

     

    1. ANC to I395 / I95 South / I95 North / I495 W / I495 East (2 maps below)
      1. Make "reverse" left turn from Memorial Drive onto ramp to SR-110 / Jefferson Davis Hwy for 0.7 miles
      2. Take ramp Right onto SR-27 / Washington Blvd for 1.1 miles
      3. Take Ramp Left toward I-395 for 0.2 miles
      4. Take Ramp Left onto I-395 toward Richmond / south
      5. Continue on I-395 South where you have several options for continuing to your final destination:
        1. I-395 South onto I-95 South - To continue South
        2. I-395 South to I-495 West / Outer Loop - To head West
        3. I-395 South to I-495 East / I-95 North - To head East to US-50 East or North on I-95

        (Use your Own maps to proceed from here)

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    2. ANC to I66 West  (1- Map Below)  (This is 1 of 2 alternatives)
      1. Go toward round-a-bout / circle and go 2/3 around taking second exit
      2. Keep Right on ramp for 0.2 miles
      3. Keep Right onto ramp for George Washington Memorial Parkway (caution entering from left) for 1.7 miles
      4. Exit Left onto ramp toward Spout Run Parkway / I-66 / US-29 / Arlington
      5. Keep to Right / Center to go straight through first traffic light - about 0.5 miles
      6. Continue to second traffic light about 0.3 miles
      7. At light, turn Right onto US-29 / Lee Hwy and move to left lane immediately
      8. At next light, turn left onto ramp to I-66
      9. Continue West on I-66 to your predetermined route change

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    3. ANC to George Washington Memorial Parkway West / North (use above map)
      1. Go toward round-a-bout / circle and go 2/3 around taking second exit
      2. Keep Right on ramp for 0.2 miles
      3. Keep Right onto ramp for George Washington Memorial Parkway (caution entering from left) for 1.7 miles
      4. Keep on the Parkway to to your predetermined route change
      5. Options include:
        1. I-495 Inner Loop to I-270 North or to I-95 North
        2. I-495 Outer Loop to I-66 West
        3. I-495 Outer Loop to Dulles Toll Road West

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    4. ANC To I-66 West  (1 map below)  (this is alternative 2 of 2)
      1. Go toward round-a-bout / circle and go 1/2 around exiting straight across from your entry
      2. Move Left on the bridge immediately after exiting circle for 0.6 miles
      3. (You will be going around the left side of the Lincoln Memorial)
      4. Turn Left a first traffic light onto 23rd Street NW, move to left, go 0.1 miles to traffic light
      5. Take ramp Left onto I-66 / Us50 and then continue on I-66 West
      6. Continue West on I-66 to your predetermined route change

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    5. ANC to DC Streets (use map above)
      1. Go toward round-a-bout / circle and go 1/2 around exiting straight across from your entry
      2. Move Left on the bridge immediately after exiting circle for 0.6 miles
      3. (You will be going around the left side of the Lincoln Memorial)
      4. Turn Left a first traffic light onto 23rd Street NW, move to right go 0.1 miles to traffic light
      5. At light, turn Right onto US-50 / constitution Ave
      6. Continue  to your predetermined route change / destination in DC

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  1. Outbound from Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial or IWO)

     

    1. IWO to ANC Admin Bldg (1 map below)

      1. Exit Memorial grounds, bearing right onto exit/entrance road

      2. Turn Right at stop sign onto Marshall Dr.

      3. Turn Right at next intersection (just before entrance to Ft. Myer) onto N. Meade St.

      4. Bear right onto ramp to Arlington Blvd (first right)

      5. Move Left carefully  into second-from-from-the-right lane

      6. Take Right exit / ramp for George Washington Memorial Pkwy - keeping Left on ramp

      7. Merge carefully onto George Washington Memorial Pkwy, then stay right

      8. Take first Right exit to Arlington National Cemetery

      9. Merge Left onto combined ramp

      10. Turn Left at stop sign

      11. Proceed to Guard checkpoint

      12. If visiting ANC, tell guard, then turn Left into Visitors Area

      13. If headed to ANC Admin Bldg for a funeral, advise guard, give last name of Hero

      14. Proceed straight ahead to second Left into Cemetery

      15. Carefully cross pedestrian walk

      16. Take second Left onto Leahy Dr

      17. Take next Left (at stop sign) onto Halsey Dr.

      18. Keep to the right, get as close to stop sign at circle as possible

      19. Park in double row, tight to the right. 

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Special PGR-ANC Routes

 

 

What happens at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) - Family View


 Information addressed to family members and their guests.

Note: Every service at Arlington National Cemetery has the potential to be different, as circumstances dictate.  What follows is a brief sketch of a set of typical services, to help Patriot Guard Riders and Heroes' families get an idea of what may happen.  The best source of exactly what will happen is the administration of the Cemetery.

As folks enter the main drive  (Memorial Drive) at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) they will encounter a 1/2 barricade, with a couple of guards. Let them know you are there for a funeral for {deceased-name} at {time} at the Administration Building.  They will direct you to go straight ahead to the end of the drive and turn left, and then to take the next left for parking at the Administration Building.

Park. Enter the Administration Bldg - go to the receptionist's desk. To the right of the desk is a large LCD screen with the names of the currently scheduled burials with two key pieces of information:  the assigned Family Room, and the name of the ANC funeral manager.  Everyone should go to the assigned Family Room to await the appearance of the funeral manager, who will then act as the master/mistress of ceremonies for the rest of the service. Obviously, the receptionist can answer any question you may have.

The Family Room is a place for the funeral attendees to gather and to wait for the next steps.  It also allows the ANC staff to orchestrate the movement of people and cars - as there are usually 5 funerals underway simultaneously any one hour.

The funeral manager will most likely ask the official next of kin to join her / him at a desk next to the receptionist - to sign papers, etc.

The funeral manager will then direct the waiting funeral party for the next steps.  Usually it is to move to the cars, and to line up behind his/her official car for the movement into the cemetery - either to the burial site, to the Columbarium (niches) or the meeting place for a caisson, if one is involved in the services.

(Note: PGR will be waiting in or near the parking area, and will fall in behind the funeral party on our bikes, or in our cages. The Ride Captain will have already checked in with the assigned funeral manager - just to let them know we are present and ready to help, if needed.)

The funeral manager will direct all stages of what happens next.

The actual graveside services are rather short, extremely moving, and superbly handled by the ANC staff and the "Old Guard" - the military unit that renders honors, etc. The whole service lasts between 20 and 30 minutes - including taps,  3 volley rifle salute, presentation of the burial flag(s) and the rest of the service.

Usually the funeral manager will dismiss friends and comrades at arms at the end of the services - so the family can have a few minutes alone at the graveside.  And then the family will move to their cars, and proceed out of the cemetery, followed by the rest of the funeral party.

(Note: PGR will follow the party to the grave side, and will stand an Honor Line - apart from the rest of the funeral party, but visible - We stand apart, in silent honor of the Hero and his/her family, friends and comrades at arms.  When most of the attendees are dismissed, we typically will reform our honor line near the family cars - so we can salute the family as it moves away from graveside to their cars, and then salute them again as they drive away.  We always remain until the family has left.  We do not fly or hold large flags inside ANC - at the request of the management.)

(Note: If the family wishes, and the circumstances permit, PGR will provide a mounted escort of the family from their hotel to ANC.  If a local funeral home is involved, PGR will render honors and flag lines as appropriate, and escort the remains and the family and the funeral party to ANC - as appropriate.)

I think that about covers it - the service is powerfully moving.

Added Notes:

If the services involve either of the chapels at Ft Myer, there are  a couple of variations. The funeral party will be directed to report to that chapel instead of the administration building. The immediate family (small room - small group) will meet the funeral manager in the chapel family room.  PGR will stand an Honor Flag Line at the chapel before and after the chapel services, and then will furl all large flags and follow the procession to graveside, as explained above.

If there is a (local to ANC) funeral home involved, PGR may be standing an Honor Flag line for viewing/visitation, and in all cases will escort the Hero's remains from the FH to ANC the day of the services.

If you have any questions - give me a call.


Ride Safe, Ride Together . . . Let's Roll! . . . Freedom is NOT Free!!
     Riding for Brad Winchester, Vet, PGR Sr Ride Captain

Dave

David "SilverBack" Slone
Patriot Guard Riders - Ride Captain, Sr. Ride Captain Arlington National Cemetery www.patriotguard.org
Cell: 301-758-5608  Home: (434) 990-1799 david.slone@pobox.com
163 Hickory Lane, Barboursville, VA 22923