Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, contains the remains of more than 400,000 people from the United States and 13 other countries, buried there since the 1860s. The cemetery is administered by the Department of the Army.

History of the Cemetery

The Arlington estate was originally owned by George Washington Parke Custis, adopted grandson of George Washington. His daughter Mary Anna Randolph Custis, who married Robert E. Lee, inherited the estate. It was abandoned by the Lees during the Civil War and used as headquarters for the Union army.

Arlington House (also known as Custis-Lee Mansion) is currently a memorial for Robert E. Lee and run by the National Park Service. Nearly 5,000 unknown soldiers are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Burial in Arlington is generally limited to active, retired and former members of the armed forces, Medal of Honor recipients, high-ranking federal government officials and their dependents.

Visitation and Security

More than three million people visit the cemetery annually. Visitors to the cemetery are required to enter through one of four access points and undergo security screenings and random ID checks. The cemetery has armed guards stationed throughout the grounds.

The Tomb of the Unknowns (also known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) has never been officially named. It is a memorial to the dead of World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The Tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by volunteer members of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), in full dress uniform carrying M-14 rifles.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.