Visitor Etiquette (2024)

More than three million people visit Arlington National Cemetery each year. Manycome to pay respects at graveside services, or to visit a loved one's final resting place. Please remember that Arlington is an active cemetery — aplace of honor, grieving and reflection. We ask that visitors abide by the following guidelines.

• Speak quietly and use headphones if you are listening to something, so that your experience does not distract or disturb other visitors.

• Enjoy the space appropriately. We encourage you to explore the cemetery(you may walk on the grass to find a grave) andattend a public ceremony. However, activities such as running, climbing, bicycling, playing sports or picnicking are not allowed.

• Leave your pets at home. Only approved service animals and military working dogs are permitted.

• Respect the property. Do not damage or sit on monuments, gravestones, plants or other property. They are historic features of this sacred site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Respect funeral services by staying at a distance. If you encounter a funeral procession, please step aside and wait for the procession to pass. If your exploration of the cemetery brings you near a funeral service, please move along to an area that is not the site of active mourning.

• Show respect to the flag. When aflag is used ina ceremony or service, or when a bugler soundsTaps, civilians should place their right hand over their heart. Military service members and veterans may salute.

• Drink water. Food and alcoholic beverages are not allowed. The cemetery grounds are vast, and the weather is often hot during the summer; stay hydrated! You may bring bottled water or purchase it at the Welcome Center, and our ANC Explorermobile app will help you locatewater fountains throughout the cemetery. Do not drink from spigots, as they do not contain potable water.

Visiting with children? Consult our Education Program! See, in particular, the "Activities for Children" section in Understanding Arlington.

To learn about the cemetery's history and traditions, and for more tips that will enhance your visit, click here.

Self-guided walking tours are featured in our Education Program:https://education.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Tours.

Additional Visitor Tips

Before you visit, please reviewour safety guidelines and security procedures, including 100% ID check.

If you are participating in a public wreath ceremony, please consult the dress code.

Beginyour visit at the Welcome Center, located by the mainentrance on Memorial Avenue. Hereyou will findexhibits, maps, information services, a bookstore, restrooms and water fountains.

We welcome visitors with disabilities.The cemetery does not provide wheelchairs or strollers, but you may bring your own.

Download our mobile app, ANC Explorer, to locate gravesites and other points of interest.

Visitor rules for Army National Military Cemeteries are established in the Code of Federal Regulations, 32 CFR § 553.33.

Visitor Etiquette (2024)

FAQs

Visitor Etiquette? ›

Show that you're enjoying yourself. Offer to pitch in for groceries if you are staying more than two or three nights. Double check to make sure you have all your belongings before you leave. Bring or send a gift, or treat your host to a night out. Send a handwritten thank-you note following your visit.

What is proper etiquette for visiting someone? ›

Show that you're enjoying yourself. Offer to pitch in for groceries if you are staying more than two or three nights. Double check to make sure you have all your belongings before you leave. Bring or send a gift, or treat your host to a night out. Send a handwritten thank-you note following your visit.

What is the 3 day rule for house guests? ›

There's a rule about how long guests should stay that she often quoted… Fish and guests, she liked to stay, smell after three days. We remember this rule when it comes to cooking; we also remember it when it comes to guests. Three days is a perfect long weekend to catch up with friends.

Should guests strip the bed? ›

Proper overnight protocol is to strip the bed, put the bed cover back on it and put the folded sheets on top of the cover at the bottom of the bed.

How do you set boundaries with guests? ›

Clarify visit limits such as length of time, sleeping arrangements, your availability to entertain them or drive them around, or financial restraints that limit your ability to go sight-seeing, provide food and meals, and so on.

What are the 3 Rs of etiquette? ›

The three Rs

Recognition: using names, greetings, and making a point of acknowledging people. Respect: treating people with respect, value and courtesy, and apologising to them where the situation calls for it. Response: people do not want to be kept waiting, they need to be responded to.

What is the golden rule of etiquette? ›

By far, the most important thing to guide your manners is the "Golden Rule": Treat others as you would want to be treated. By minding your manners, your friends and other kids will look up to you, and adults will be impressed with your maturity.

How long should you stay at someone's house as a guest? ›

Be (at Least Somewhat) Self-Sufficient

If you're staying for more than three days, call up other friends who live in the city, bring some work of your own to do, or be okay exploring on your own. Let your host know your plans and when you think you will get back.

How long is too long to stay with a friend? ›

Anything beyond two to three nights might be overdoing it, according to Amanda King, an etiquette expert and director at Australian Finishing School. "Anything over a week is really an extended stay and puts pressure on the host to entertain and maintain a household without disruption," said King.

What is a customary gift if you are visiting someone's home? ›

Gift possibilities include wine, Champagne, flowers (preferably in a vase), a potted plant, chocolates, specialty food items such as jams and jellies or other condiments, fancy nuts, olives, olive oil or vinegar, or items for the house, such as co*cktail napkins, guest soaps and lotions , a picture frame, or a scented ...

Who should greet when entering a room? ›

When you enter a room you should be the first person to greet everyone there regardless of your status.. The "no elbows on the table" rule applies only when you are actually eating.

What not to say when showing a house? ›

Don't say the price is unrealistic.

The home could very well be within range of comparables in the neighborhood. On the other hand, some sellers aren't open to lowering until they've tried their listing price for a couple of months or feel pressured to sell their home quickly.

Should you bring a gift when visiting someone? ›

A gift is a lovely way to thank your host for their hospitality. Always appreciated, it doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive; simply consider the nature of the occasion and local custom when making your choice.

How long should you stay at someone's house when visiting? ›

"When and where possible, try to stick to your normal routine, which may include daily exercise, consistent mealtimes and sleep/wake times, and pre-sleep activities like meditation." And, you know, maybe limit your stays to three days, four if you're really pushing it.

What is a customary gift to bring on a visit to someone's home? ›

You don't have to match the price of the gift to the bill, but consider bringing something you might bring to a home dinner party. Appropriate gifts for a dinner party host include: Bouquet of flowers in a vase. Boxed candies.

References

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