Arlington National Cemetery will be closed to the general public Dec. 13 to 19 so wreaths can be placed on the graves of the thousands who are interred there.
The cemetery will be closed on Dec. 13 to allow family pass holders to lay wreaths on their loved ones’ graves from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to a release.
Soldiers from the 3d Infantry Regiment will place wreaths donated by Wreaths Across America from Dec. 14 to 18. Normally, thousands of volunteers converge on the cemetery to place wreaths on graves during the popular event, set this year for Dec. 19. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, how those wreaths will be placed has been changed.
Last month, ANC officials announced Wreaths Across America would be cancelled due to concerns about the coronavirus, but that decision was overturned by President Donald Trump.
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“On Dec. 19, a small group of Wreaths Across America team members will place wreaths in a designated section of the cemetery, and the National Wreath Day event will be broadcast for the public to experience,” ANC said in the release.
The broadcast link and time will be available closer to the event. Family pass holders can visit the cemetery from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to place their private wreaths or flowers.
The cemetery will reopen to the public on Dec. 20 and visitors can place graveside tributes of privately purchased wreaths or flowers in accordance with ANC’S floral policy.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com
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