Arlington adds space for cremated remains

[unhappycamper]

Arlington National Cemetery Superintendent John C. Metzler, right, and Army Undersecretary Nelson M. Ford, view the wall that will hold the cremated remains of American veterans following a dedication ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Dec. 9.


Arlington adds space for cremated remains
By Kamala Lane - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Dec 9, 2008 18:13:47 EST

ARLINGTON, Va. — The eight vaults housing the cremated remains of veterans and their spouses at Arlington National Cemetery may not be as familiar as the seemingly endless rows of white headstones.

But more than half of the cemetery’s services are now for cremated remains — and with limited burial space, the cemetery is making room for more.

On Tuesday, some 200 people gathered for a ceremony to open the cemetery’s ninth outdoor structure for entombing cremated remains. The 6-foot-tall, nearly half-mile-long outdoor wall known as a columbarium will house the remains of more than 6,500 veterans.

Cemetery spokeswoman Kaitlin Horst said demand is great for burial space at Arlington and more people are choosing to cremate their loved ones because the requirements are more relaxed than for in-ground burials.

Only certain members of the military, including those who died while on active duty or were awarded certain decorations, can be buried in the ground at Arlington. But most are eligible for places in the columbarium.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/12/ap_arlington_120908/%2e