Public allowed on Tomb of the Unknown Soldier plaza for 1st time in nearly 100 years

By Veronica Stracqualursi, CNN

For the first time in nearly a century, members of the public were able to walk on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier plaza and lay flowers before the sacred memorial site in Arlington National Cemetery.

It’s the first time in 96 years that visitors have been allowed to approach the Tomb, according to Karen Durham-Aguilera, the executive director of Army National Military Cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery.

The rare chance for the public to get close to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier falls on its centennial commemoration.

“The next two days will truly be a historic and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Durham-Aguilera said Tuesday morning, kicking off the start of the two-day flower ceremony.

<p>A woman arrives to place flowers during a centennial commemoration event at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday in Arlington, Virginia.</p>

Alex Brandon/AP

A woman arrives to place flowers during a centennial commemoration event at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday in Arlington, Virginia.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been a final resting place for three unknown U.S. service members, beginning in 1921, but has also served as a symbolic grave for unidentified or unlocated American solders.

“As you lay your flower, we at Arlington encourage you to reflect on the meaning of the Tomb. By the simple act of laying a flower, you are not only honoring the three unknowns buried here but all unknown or missing American service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation,” Tim Frank, the Arlington National Cemetery’s historian, said during Tuesday’s opening ceremony.

Tuesday’s start of the flower ceremony also included a smudging ceremony and a prayer led by Crow Nation.

On Tuesday morning, a crowd of people and families, including Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, an Army combat veteran, lined up to place a flower at the Tomb.

<p>Stacy Wittmeyer, center, kisses her daughter Margaux Wittmeyer, 2, right, both from Springfield, Virginia, after placing a flower during a centennial commemoration event at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday in Arlington, Virginia.</p>

Alex Brandon/AP

Stacy Wittmeyer, center, kisses her daughter Margaux Wittmeyer, 2, right, both from Springfield, Virginia, after placing a flower during a centennial commemoration event at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday in Arlington, Virginia.

The public will be able to lay a flower at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Wednesday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET. The Arlington National Cemetery said on its website that it does “anticipate holding another event in our lifetimes in which the public will be able to approach the Tomb in this manner.”

Visitors to Arlington National Cemetery need to provide a government-issued ID for entry.

There will be an invite-only wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on the nation’s observance of Veterans Day on Thursday. President Joe Biden plans to attend.

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