Arlington National Cemetery: Management, Burial & Contracting Challenges

The Army’s management of Arlington National Cemetery has come under scrutiny following the discovery of burial errors and the identification of serious management deficiencies affecting cemetery operations. Established during the Civil War, Arlington contains the remains of more than 330,000 military service members, family members, and other individuals, including two U.S. Presidents. Arlington conducts an average of 27 funerals each day, hosts hundreds of ceremonies throughout the year, and has approximately 4 million visitors annually. This book examines the Army’s efforts to address and improve management deficiencies at Arlington; the process for providing information and assistance to families regarding efforts to detect and correct burial errors; and factors affecting the feasibility and advisability of transferring jurisdiction for the Army’s national cemeteries to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).