The Arlington Ladies
Ranked #621 in Volunteering, #100,504 overall | Donates to Soldiers Angels, Operation Helmet
Angels of Arlington Serving Our Veterans and Their Families
Currently 195 Arlington Ladies, volunteer time to pay tribute to nation's fallen and serve their grief-stricken families.
The Arlington Ladies are all former or current military spouses, helping families who are attending services or serving in place of families for soldiers who have no one who can attend. They ensure that no soldier is ever buried alone.
Image Source: Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist NyxoLyno Cangemi. Handwritten Sympathy Card. Photographic Content is Public Domain.
Arlington Ladies
A Group of Women
who volunteer to Honor
the Soldiers who have given
their lives for our country
Table of Contents for the Arlington Ladies Lens
- Mission of the Arlington Ladies
- Watch the Memorial Day Tribute to the Arlington Ladies
- History of the Arlington Ladies
- The Arlington Ladies on Flickr
- Witnessing the Funeral
- Articles about the Arlington Ladies
- I am your Arlington Lady.
- Role of the Arlington Ladies
- Delivering a Personal Sympathy Note
- Arlington Ladies Hand-written Card
- Becoming an Arlington Lady
- Featured Lenses on Writing Sympathy Cards and Condolence Notes
- Books on Writing Sympathy Cards on Amazon
- Wings of Our Own in the Amazon Spotlight
- Honoring and Giving Back to the Arlington Ladies
- A Featured Lens about the Gratitude Campaign
- The Latest in the News about the Arlington Ladies
- Blog Posts about the Arlington Ladies
- Arlington National Cemetery on Wikipedia
- Arlington National Cemetery on Google Maps
- A News Article on the Arlington Cemetery Workers
- Benefiting Operation Helmet and Project Help on Squidoo
Mission of the Arlington Ladies
- What we do is always important and meaningful,
but when you are alone at a funeral there is an added relevance.
You feel an even greater need to be there,
like you're helping to close the circle.
Linda Willey
13-year Arlington Ladies Veteran
If family members are present, an Arlington Lady will deliver a personal note of condolence from the chief of staff's office along with their own note of condolence.
The Arlington Lady follow-up with another hand-written letter six to eight weeks later, as a reminder that they are still available if needed.
Image Source: Arlington Ladies pass milestone marker, pass on tradition. Pentagram Newspaper. September 16, 2005
Watch the Memorial Day Tribute to the Arlington Ladies
On MSNBC
Formed 60 years ago, the Arlington Ladies attend every funeral at Arlington National Cemetery to ensure that no military service member is ever buried alone. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.
Two locations of the video are included. To watch the MSNBC Memorial Day Tribute to the Arlington Ladies click on either of the links below.
- Arlington Ladies offer company, condolences
- Arlington Ladies offer company, condolences from MSNBC, May 26, 2008.
- Arlington Ladies offer company, condolences
- Arlington Ladies offer company, condolences from MSNBC, May 26, 2008.
Ensuring there will always be a presence at Soldier funerals in Arlington National Cemetery.
A True Honor and Pleasure to Say 'Thank You'
History of the Arlington Ladies
The origins of the Arlington Ladies started in 1948 when Air Force Chief of Staff General Hoyt Vandenberg happened upon the funeral of an airman at Arlington. He was very disturbed by the fact that there was not one present at the service except for the chaplain and the Honor Guard members. It bothered Chief of Staff to watch a fellow airman make this final journey alone.When he recounted the story to his wife, Gladys, and how disturbed he was by the airman being buried alone, she promised to personally attend the Air Force personnel burials.
Gladys Vandenberg founded the Arlington Committee for the Air Force in 1948; this Arlington institution eventually became known as the Arlington Ladies.
The Army Arlington Ladies was founded in 1972 and the Navy in 1985. The Marine Corps does not have a contingent of Arlington Ladies, but a representative of the Commandant is present at every funeral.
There are three branches of the Arlington Ladies for the Air Force, the Army and the Navy, with nearly 200 active members.
Image Source: Jeri Gloege. Entrance to Arlington Cemetery. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.
Source: Shawn Macomber. May 2005. The Arlington Ladies. The Spectator.
We're here to pay our respects and support the families of those lost.
Linda Willey
13-year Arlington Ladies Veteran
Friendgrief: An Absence Called Presence on Amazon
Friendgrief: An Absence Called Presence (Death, Value and Meaning)
Amazon Price: $59.95 (as of 07/11/2009)
Friendgrief includes a mention of the Arlington Ladies, ensuring that no service person is buried alone.
In Friendgrief, Harold Ivan Smith looks at the role of friends in the grieving process. The book includes vignettes from the lives of well-known friend grievers along with moving narratives of seasoned friendgrievers.
What we do is always important and meaningful, but when you are alone at a funeral there is an added relevance. You feel an even greater need to be there, like you're helping to close the circle.
Linda Willey
13-year Arlington Ladies Veteran
Witnessing the Funeral
Articles about the Arlington Ladies
- Arlington Ladies: Arlington National Cemetery
- The Arlington Ladies stand a silent vigil at funerals attended by dozens of ... Since 1973, the Arlington Ladies have ensured that no Soldier - old or young ...
- Arlington Ladies pass milestone marker, pass on tradition
- The Arlington Ladies is a volunteer organization that ensures there will always be a presence at Soldier funerals in Arlington National Cemetery from the Military District of Washington.
- Grim Duty in Section 60
- On a winter day when the rows and rows of white headstones were shrouded in a band of low-lying mist at Arlington National Cemetery, Jane Newman took her place in the white-gloved military honor guard from the WashingtonPost.com
- Caregivers Archive - The Arlington Ladies
- Richard H. Schneider looks at the The Arlington Ladies. As military deaths mount-both veterans and actives-these women make sure no one grieves alone.
- Ladies of Arlington Never Miss Final Salute
- During a recent Army funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, a woman escorted by a member of the Army's 3rd US Infantry (The Old Guard), stood silently near the gravesite.
- Honoring unsung heroes of Army Families
- FLO Notes looks at the Arlington Ladies. There are a number of Arlington Ladies who represent the Army, Navy or Air Force at Arlington National Cemetery funerals.
- Hallowed ground: Arlington Cemetery workers pay their respects ...
- Since 1999, she has chaired the Army division of the Arlington Ladies, organizing a crew of 63 volunteers headquartered in a cramped office in the ...
- Association of the United States Army: Army Arlington Ladies to ...
- ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 6, 2005 -- The Army Arlington Ladies were selected to receive the Association of the United States Army's Gen. ...
- MIA Sister Knows the Pain of Families of ...
- The DefenseLink News Article from 2001 looks at the Arlington Ladies. She had been participating in a burial ceremony with the "Arlington Ladies," a group of volunteers that helps out at services.
Arlington Ladies Photo Shoot on Flickr
A Photo Album by NyxoLyno Cangemi, Photojournalist.
Arlington Ladies as a Photo Story
You can also view some of the images above on Flickr.
- The Arlington Ladies
- A Photo Album by NyxoLyno Cangemi, Photojournalist of the Arlington Ladies.
I am your Arlington Lady.
I am your Arlington lady,
not just now but forever,
and you can always contact me.
It's a bond that is built to last.
Paula McKinley
Chair of the Navy Arlington Ladies
Role of the Arlington Ladies
An Arlington Lady is always present at every burial, internment or Inurnment ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Arlington National Cemetery holds as many as 100 funerals a week, Monday through Friday or upwards of 20 funerals a day.The Arlington Ladies are always accompanied by a military escort, Members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard). They wear a distinctive red, white and blue pin that incorporates the Army Chief of Staff's flag.
The Arlington Ladies have a strict Standard Operating Procedure that they follow.
- An Arlington Lady does not cry.
She dresses in muted, conservative civilian dress.
She is not a professional mourner.
She is not a grief counselor.
She is there as a witness at every Arlington funeral as the personal representative of the chief of staff.
She is there to shepherd the fallen soldier during his or her final mile.
She is also there to say "Thank You" to the family.
Image Source: The Ladies of Arlington. Official Government Website.
Books on Acts of Kindness on Amazon
Delivering a Personal Sympathy Note
Arlington Ladies present hand-written sympathy cards to the next-of-kin of deceased military men and women at the Arlington Funeral.
Arlington Ladies Hand-written Card
Becoming an Arlington Lady
Understandably the Arlington Ladies are a very selective volunteer group. This is not a role that many people would want to take on and perform.In order to become an Arlington Lady, one must be asked to join their ranks by another Arlington Lady.
The Arlington Ladies is open only to military wives or widows. Many are the wives of high-ranking officers and, as military partners, have witnessed decades of military history.
Margaret Mensch, chairperson of the Army's Arlington Ladies perhaps sums up the reasons many participate.
It's an honor to be asked to be a part of these ceremonies that pay tribute to the everyday heroes that make up the armed forces. We're just giving back a little to those who have given us so much.
The tributes come straight from the heart and always includes a hand-written note of condolence.
Featured Lenses on Writing Sympathy Cards and Condolence Notes
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How to Write a Sympathy Card
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Sending your sympathy following the death of a loved one or a major loss is still best done by sending a hand-written card, a note or a letter. It is estimated that Americans send nearly 125 million sympathy cards annually for many different types o...
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How to Write a Condolence Note or a Sympathy Note
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Taking a bit of time to write a condolence note or condolence letter can be a great source of comfort and provide a gift of healing for a friend or a loved one who is grieving a loss. According to research by Hallmark, Americans send nearly 125 mill...
Books on Writing Sympathy Cards on Amazon
Wings of Our Own in the Amazon Spotlight
Wings of Our Own
Amazon Price: $13.46 (as of 07/11/2009)
Wings of Our Own is a collection of stories about those "who also serve."
This 240-page book is full of personal narratives and anecdotes and provides a linkage to the past as well as a taste of the present. These true tales of military life are emotionally charged, educational, inspirational and often humorous.
Honoring and Giving Back to the Arlington Ladies
- Arlington volunteers draped in gratitude
- An article about Bob Fink who is making special scarves to recognize the Arlington Ladies from Rochester, NY MPNnow.
- Army Arlington Ladies to Receive Gen. Creighton W. Abrams Medal
- An announcement from the Association of the United States Army from 2005 when the Army Arlington Ladies received the Gen. Creighton W. Abrams Medal for their work.
A Featured Lens about the Gratitude Campaign
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The Gratitude Campaign - Thanking Those Who Are Serving & Others
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The Gratitude Campaign is a way for people to say "thank you" quickly and easily to those who serve without even having to approach them. With a simple hand gesture in sign language, you can easily convey your "thanks" to those who...
Those moments they share with the families and our servicemen and women are intensely personal.
The Arlington Ladies, as a group, really are committed to keeping those moments and their work sacred.
Army Major Kevin Stroop
Regimental Chaplain
The Latest in the News about the Arlington Ladies
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byBlog Posts about the Arlington Ladies
- The Arlington Ladies - Our Daily Bread
- In 1948, the US Air Force Chief of Staff noticed that no one attended the funeral of an airman at Arlington National Cemetery, and that deeply disturbed him. He talked with his wife about his concern that each soldier be honored at ...
- Chaplain Dave's Newsletter: Arlington Ladies 60th Celebration
- Tuesday saw the culmination of several days of hard work on the part of many, including my wife, to celebrate 60 years of service by a group of Air Force spouses known as the Arlington Ladies. These ladies are present for military ...
- Arlington Ladies celebrate 60 years of service
- The Air Force Arlington Ladies were recently honored for 60 years of service with a tour of the US Air Force Band and US Air Force Honor Guard facilities and a luncheon at the main chapel here. A brief historical background of the ...
- The Arlington Ladies
- May 25, 2009. The Arlington Ladies. ODB RADIO: Listen Now | Download READ: Matthew 26:6-13. What this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her. ?Matthew 26:13. In 1948, the US Air Force Chief of Staff noticed that no one ...
Bloggers Write about the Arlington Ladies
- Sean Gleeson - The Arlington Ladies
- After hearing of this, Mrs. Vandenburg founded a committee of volunteers to attend burials at Arlington. Today, the "Arlington Ladies" attend every service, .
- Chaotic Synaptic Activity: The Arlington Ladies
- Thoughts on the Arlington Ladies from Chaotic Synaptic Activity.
- TitusOneNine - Arlington Ladies offer company, condolences
- The Rev. Dr. Kendall S. Harmon shares information on the Arlington Ladies in his weblog.
- Op-Ed: Honoring our Fallen, the Arlington Ladies
- This Op-Ed written for Digital Journal focuses on one very special group of female volunteers is making sure no one is buried alone.
Arlington National Cemetery on Wikipedia
Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia is a military cemetery in the United States, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna (Custis) Lee, a descendant of Martha Washington. The cemetery is situated directly across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. and near The Pentagon. It is served by the Arlington Cemetery station on the Blue Line of the Washington Metro system.
More than 300,000 people are buried in an area of . Veterans and military casualties from every one of the nation's wars are interred in the cemetery, from the American Revolution through the military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Pre-Civil War dead were reinterred after 1900...
Arlington National Cemetery on Google Maps
Book on Arlington National Cemetery on Amazon
A Featured Lens on the Arlington National Cemetery
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Arlington National Cemetery
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Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia, was established during the American Civil War. It sits just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Arlington is an American military cemetery which acts as the final resting place for more...
Hallowed Ground on Flickr Photos
A collection of photographs of behind-the-scenes workers at the Arlington Cemetery.
A News Article on the Arlington Cemetery Workers
- Hallowed ground: Arlington Cemetery workers pay their respects every day
- Farm and Dairy takes a look at the workers behind the scenes at the Arlington National Cemetery, including the Arlington Ladies.
Arlington National Cemetery Items on eBay
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I'll Be Home for Christmas - A Wish of Hope and Peace for the Holidays
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The classic song, "I'll Be Home for Christmas," is a song about longing to be home with the ones that you love. Listening to this beautiful melody and lyrics is one way of being home for a bit even when you're far apart...if only in your dr...
Image Credits
I am your Arlington Lady - Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist NyxoLyno Cangemi. Arlington Ladies. Photographic Content is Public Domain.
Delivering a Personal Sympathy Note - © Andrea Woudenberg. Untitled. Gratefully Used with Permission.
Arlington Ladies Hand-written Card - © Andrea Woudenberg. Condolences. Gratefully Used with Permission.
Reader Feedback on the Arlington Ladies
JenOfChicago wrote...
What an interesting group - I was not aware of them. Thanks for a beautiful, timely, lens.
Posted May 19, 2009
tandemonimom wrote...
I did not know about the Arlington Ladies. They perform a beautiful service to their country. Thank you for sharing this lens. 5*
Posted September 26, 2008
stargazer00 wrote...
God bless the Arlington Ladies! This made me cry. I'm afraid I'd never make it as an Arlington Lady. I am grateful for this very valuable service they provide for the families of our fallen heroes.
Posted August 06, 2008
The_Homeopath wrote...
What beautiful women. I remember at my Grandfather's funeral, the military provided an honor guard and he got a gun salute. The soldiers who came were so young, but they were intensely proud to be there performing that duty for a fellow soldier.
Posted July 26, 2008
daoine wrote...
I hadn't heard of the Arlington Ladies and I really enjoyed reading about them here. It's a lovely gesture - I can't bear the idea that someone might be buried completely alone - and you've done a wonderful job, as always, on your lens.
Posted July 22, 2008
Starving_Artist wrote...
wonderful lens, so great to have people like this out there giving much needed comfort :)
Posted July 22, 2008
Frankster wrote...
What these devoted women do is wonderful and much appreciated. Your presentation was beautiful and moved me to tears as only a few lenses have. Bless you and bear hugs, Frankie
Posted July 22, 2008
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Soldiers' Angels also provide assistance to the wounded, continuing support for veterans, remembrances and comfort for families of the fallen, and immediate response to unique difficulties.
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