JANUARY 8, 2022 – The first snow of the season blanketed the National Capital Region and turned Arlington National Cemetery into a winter wonderland.
Founded in 1864 during the American Civil War, the cemetery is the final resting place for veterans who have fought in every war since the nation’s inception.
More than 150 years later, almost 400,000 veterans and their family members, two presidents and numerous other historical figures are laid to rest at the cemetery.
Also home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the cemetery has grown in size and significance through the decades and continues to remind each generation of the sacrifice members of the armed forces and their families make in the defense of freedom.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is Arlington National Cemetery’s most iconic memorial. For nearly 100 years, it has stood at the heart of the cemetery, serving as a site for reflection on service, valor and sacrifice.
The Tomb sarcophagus stands above the grave of an Unknown Soldier from World War I, buried when the Tomb was dedicated on November 11, 1921. Two additional crypts, for Unknowns from World War II and the Korean War, were added in 1958.
The Unknowns represent all unidentified service members who gave their lives for the United States.
