WASHINGTON — If you’re visiting Arlington National Cemetery to remember and honor the thousands of American veterans during this Memorial Day weekend, here’s what you need to know about the current security measures to have a quick and smooth entrance.
Arlington encourages visitors to allow additional time to go through security screening, especially those visiting with large tour groups. Visitors should expect security measures similar to those at the Smithsonian museums.
Visitors walking through the cemetery must enter through Arlington National Cemetery’s four access points: the main entrance on Memorial Avenue; the Ord & Weitzel Gate; the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Old Post Chapel Gate; the Service Complex Gate off Columbia Pike.
All visitors must go through the screening process at the Welcome Center, the access point for pedestrians off the main entrance.
To make the screening process faster, don’t bring a bag. Express screening lines are available for visitors without bags or those with disabilities.
Explosives, firearms, knives (or any blade longer than 4 inches), narcotics and fireworks are prohibited.
Visitors driving through the cemetery (those with a family pass or funeral attendees), should bring valid government issued photo identification (driver’s license, passport etc.); it’s required to present it at the entrance. Any vehicle is subject to random inspections.
Any visitors are subject to random ID checks.
The cemetery’s enhanced security measures have been implemented since late January.
