A patriotic ceremony honoring America’s military members and veterans is scheduled for Tuesday, November 11, 2008, at 11 am in Arlington National Cemetery.  A wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Tomb of the Unknowns, followed by a ceremony in the Memorial Amphitheater, adjacent to the Tomb. The event will commence with a prelude concert by the US Navy Band at 10:30 a.m. inside the amphitheater.
 
Attendees are strongly encouraged to arrive early.  Every effort is made to perform security screenings quickly and efficiently, but the lines to pass through the screening stations often become quite lengthy.  Once capacity has been reached - which often happens by 10:30 or earlier - entrance to the Tomb and amphitheater area of the cemetery will be closed.
 
This year’s event will be hosted by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake; National President of the Military Chaplains Association Michael McCoy, and Maj. Gen. Richard J. Rowe Jr.,  Commanding General of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington and the Joint Force Headquarters–National Capital Region.
 
Both ceremonies are free and open to the public. For those interested in observing the wreath ceremony, space is limited to standing room only. Inside the amphitheater, seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are needed to attend these events. However, due to space limitations, spectators generally must choose which of the two events they wish to observe.  The events conclude around noon.
 
At 8 am, the cemetery gates open and a free shuttle service will begin transporting people from the Arlington National Cemetery visitor center to the Tomb/amphitheater. Parking in the cemetery’s visitor parking lot will be free until 1 p.m.  The visitor center is approximately one-quarter mile from the Arlington National Cemetery Metro station on the Blue Line (between the Pentagon and Rosslyn stations).
 
Fort Myer will also operate a free shuttle for DoD Identification card holders from the Fort Myer Memorial Chapel parking lot. Walking into the cemetery is prohibited from Fort Myer.