Arlington National Cemetery to Expand

The fiscal 2000 National Defense Authorization Act contained a provision to expand Arlington National Cemetery. In response, Defense Department officials have garnered more than 70 acres of land. This includes acquisition of three parcels of land, including the 44-acre Navy Annex that lies to the south. DoD also acquired half of a 24 acre tract inside the cemetery that had belonged to the National Park Service and was being used as a buffer zone between the Arlington House and the cemetery. In addition, the cemetery will use a 17-acre tract of land that’s now a picnic area at adjacent Fort Myer, and officials are looking at relocating utilities inside the cemetery from underneath the grass-tufted area and placing them underneath roads. Arlington now should be able to continue operations until at least 2060. For more information on the Arlington National Cemetery, including eligibility criteria, go to http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org.