<p>My mom has decided to hold a memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery, for my father, a WW 2 vet, who passed away last week. The funeral director where she lives is helping with arrangements and asked her to name some dates for possible scheduling.</p>
<p>I’m wondering if anyone has experience doing this (funeral director said it was becoming a popular option) and any advice. Is parking a problem at the cemetery? It’s an outdoor ceremony, so when does the weather start to get too chilly in the D.C. area? Would early Nov. be doable weatherwise? </p>
<p>Mom is reluctant to do this outside in winter, so if we’re unable to secure a fall date, we may be looking at spring for the internment of his ashes. Is there a known rainy period to avoid? </p>
<p>Finally, the hotels in the immediate area fill up fast due to the convenience to the cemetery and to D.C., so are there outlying neighborhoods that are better to look for accommodations that are still an easy drive to ANC? </p>
<p>If we host a lunch afterwards, are there restaurants nearby that offer private rooms we could reserve in advance?</p>
<p>No experience, but I wanted to express my condolences to you and your family on the loss of your father.</p>
<p>I was at Arlington some years ago, strictly as a tourist. There was plenty of parking. There were several funerals or services in progress while we were there. Playing of Taps always gets to me - so melancholy and emotional. </p>
<p>Weather in November in DC is “changeable”- might be beautiful, might be rainy, might be cold. We often go to DC for Thanksgiving - all my photos show long-sleeves with or without sweaters or light jackets.</p>
<p>You may want to post this at one of the service academy forums. If he’s ex-army, I’d try the West Point forum, but any would surely work. There are many ex and current service personnel that frequent the boards there. Some may well have personal experience, or be able to guide your mom to just the right place.</p>
<p>The Arlington link provided also should have a wealth of info.</p>
<p>There are numerous support services available for current and past service families.</p>
<p>My condolences.</p>
<p>I believe each family is assigned a bereavement counselor to personally assist and make sure all goes smoothly, but I’m not sure if this is a service for active duty personnel only, or to all vets interned at Arlington. Keep this in mind; your funeral director may also be able to advise on this aspect.</p>
<p>My father was buried there and the military seemed to handle everything but I was not directly involved and just flew in for the service. It’s very moving and well done. I think we were allowed to park nearby the grave site–not in the big lot.</p>
<p>There is plenty of parking at Arlington, but as noted, if you are holding a service there, you will probably be able to park near the internment site.</p>
<p>I took my children there last year to visit the cemetery and the grave of my uncle who was killed in WW2 at the age of 19. I really wanted them to be able to know where he was buried and remember his sacrifice so they could tell their kids someday. The staff even said we could drive to his grave, but it was not a far walk from the entrance area.</p>
<p>Re: hotels - I guess that VA hotels in Arlington or Alexandria would be very convenient, but we stayed right in downtown DC and it was a very easy drive over to Arlington.</p>
<p>P.S. Jazzymom - my condolences on your loss & I appreciate your father’s service to our country.</p>
<p>In response to the request posted on the US Naval Academy forum…</p>
<p>I can help with hotels… perhaps someone else can chime in on resturants…</p>
<p>Several hotels in the area… (relative to cemetary)</p>
<p>Directly to the north/northwest:</p>
<p>Arlington Courthouse Plaza
Hyatt Arlington
Marriiott Key Bridge
Westin Arlington Gateway
Residence Inn Rosslyn</p>
<p>directly to the south: (between cemetary and airport)</p>
<p>Sheraton national
Doubletree Crystal city
Embassy suites
Rsidence Inn Pentagon</p>
<p>(consider using priceline.com to get decent rates)…</p>
<p>(just a thought- after selecting a hotel, most should be able to recommend suitable resturants in the area…)</p>
<p>As for cars:
if i remember correctly, those in attendance take their cars into the cemetary- if it is a military funeral, at some point the casket will be transferred to a horse-drawn casion… cars follow to the actual site</p>
<p>I am sorry that you are planning a trip under such circumstances. Your father must be missed greatly. </p>
<p>There is bad traffic during rush hour periods - the best times are early on weekends, which if you’re having lunch after I guess you are planning on? </p>
<p>Depending on how far you are willing to drive, your best bet is an area right off 66. Tyson’s Corner (Va) will probably be about a 15 minute drive in all (right off 66) and as a last resort should have plenty of open hotel rooms unless something bizarre is going on. The hotels will range from basic to very fancy but there aren’t many motel type operations - more mid-level at the least. The Sheraton Premier in Tysons (off Rt 7/Leesburg Pike) is on main roads and you may be able to have lunch catered there, pretty big hotel. </p>
<p>The Key Bridge Marriott overlooks the river and has a room on the top floor with glass walls that is very nice. I don’t know about the mechanics of renting it out, private dining may be really expensive but I think you could reservations for a large group in advance. The view is nice. There are really a ton of restaurants in the 15 minute radius area - do you have any special kinds of requests or preferences?</p>
<p>Thanks to all who replied and thanks for the condolences. Thanks violadad and navy; that info is a big help. </p>
<p>I’ve always been proud of my dad’s service in WW 2. He flew the big transport planes that dropped paratroopers over France and Italy, starting on Dec. 8. Missed D-Day by a day, but think “Band of Brothers,” the pilot version. His squadron was one that participated in the Battle of the Bulge, dropping troops and large equipment and then following the army to fly in and land in designated areas to pick up the wounded. While he was not a fighter pilot, his job was dangerous because the planes were so big and cumbersome, they flew over combat areas and had no defense (guns) on board and usually did not have fighter planes escorting them. After the war ended, my parents married and my dad stayed in the reserves until the Korean War heated up. By then, he had two small children and decided he could not risk going back to war. </p>
<p>Over the years, my sons had chosen Dad repeatedly for their “hero” essay in subsequent grades or to do the interview-a-veteran assignment and his description of his service always made that time in history come alive for them. As soon as we heard about the Arlington option, I felt that it was the right way to honor him even though he did had not remained in the service. </p>
<p>The hotels listed above are great I have stayed at most of them. Weather at that time is fine. I would not be too worried about that. Fall stays later in DC area. Traffic is tough and allow extra time. We always allow double what we would drive for a midwest city. </p>
<p>Again our condolences and our deepest gratitude for his service.</p>
<p>Mike
BTW Residence inns offer free breakfast and most offer free weeknight cocktail hour. It is a good place to get together with family at the large clubhouse. It islike staying at a small apartment and every room has a full kitchen.</p>
<p>When I went to a burial at Arlington we had the funeral lunch at a Fort that very near the cemetery (Fort Meyers?). It was very convenient. My condolences on your loss.</p>
<p>I have family buried in Arlington. I believe all arrangements for the service for handled for us. For the last funeral there I went to, for my grandmother (husband was a high ranking career officer in the military), my family stayed at the Embassy Suites. It’s a hotel chain we stay in regularly; all rooms have a bedroom, bathroom, living room with fold out couch, small hallway with bathroom connecting the two, microwave, fridge, extra sink, and 2 TVs. The hotels often have pools and business features, if that’s attractive to your family. They also have a daily manager’s reception with free drinks and snacks, and an extensive breakfast is included. We get good service at Embassy Suites hotels all around the US. I don’t have any restaurant suggestions.</p>
<p>Thank you for the good wishes, corranged. I know that once we connect with the VA irt my father, the official arrangements will be handled and believe me, I’m very grateful for that service. I was fishing for any and all suggestions about accommodations and convenient places for a post-ceremony lunch — I’d like a private room where relatives can each say a word about what a great guy my dad was. An ordinary honest, faithful, hard-working “joe” with a wry sense of humor and drop-dead good looks. Seriously, I’m talking Tyrone Power in that Air Force leather bomber jacket. </p>
<p>Anyway, I will be checking out all suggestions. It may be that the backlog of requests for services held at Arlington puts us into the spring, which gives me plenty of time to plan. This internet thing is a great help, I must say. Thanks to all again.</p>
<p>I would recommend the Ft. Myer O’Club for your dining needs and the Key Bridge Marriott for your lodging. I live in the DC area and am at Ft Myer quite a bit. PM me if you need anything or have any questions.</p>
<p>BTW, Tyrone Power in “Bringing Up the Brass” and "The Long Gray Line…too cute! Your dad must have been a stunner :)</p>