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 left 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 funeral party to graveside, or we may move to
graveside ahead of the funeral party to salute the party as it arrives.
In either case, we 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. At the end of the service, 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
Virginia Assistant
State Captain - Arlington National Cemetery
Patriot Guard Riders - www.patriotguard.org
Cell: 301-758-5608
david.slone@pobox.com
163 Hickory Lane, Barboursville, VA 22923
