QUICK ANSWER
How does a school group lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?
Start a ceremony request on Arlington National Cemetery’s website at least one week before booking opens, then watch for an email with your scheduling link. Ceremony times for your date open at exactly 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 180 days in advance (the evening before the 180-day mark), and they go in minutes. Have your first-choice time and a backup ready, and book the moment slots appear. Up to four participants may lay the wreath, and your group provides the wreath.
There are few moments on a Washington, D.C. trip as quiet, or as powerful, as watching your own students lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The plaza goes still, the Tomb Guard stands at attention, and as Taps plays, a handful of students honor service members whose names will never be known.
It is also one of the hardest things to book in Washington. Public wreath ceremonies are open to school groups, but appointments are released on a strict 180-day schedule and the best times are often gone within minutes. Arlington National Cemetery’s website explains the rules, but not the strategy. This guide walks you through every step, with the timing details and insider tips we’ve learned from years of helping teachers secure this honor for their students.
AT A GLANCE
- Booking window: 180 days before your ceremony date
- Booking opens: exactly 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the evening before the 180-day mark
- Start your request: at least one week before booking opens
- Participants: up to 4 people lay the wreath (the rest of your group watches)
- Limit: one wreath ceremony per group, per day
- Wreath: your group provides it
- Dress code: business casual or school uniform, no jeans or sneakers
- Cost to request: none from the cemetery; you only pay for the wreath
1. Choose Your Date and Your Backup Time
Before you touch the request form, sit down with your itinerary. Wreath ceremonies happen at the Tomb itself, so your group needs to arrive at Arlington with plenty of time to clear security, walk up the hill from the Welcome Center, and gather on the plaza before your slot.
Pick a first-choice time and at least one backup time on the same day. When booking opens you will not have time to check the bus schedule or text your chaperones. Decide now, write both times down, and keep them in front of you on booking night.
TEACHER TIP
Mornings are popular because they pair well with a full day on the National Mall. If your itinerary is flexible, being open to a late-morning or early-afternoon slot can be the difference between getting a ceremony and missing out.
2. Count Back 180 Days
Ceremony times are released 180 days before the date you want. Arlington’s system begins accepting bookings at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the evening before the 180-day mark. Here’s an example:
- Ceremony date: Friday, May 14, 2027
- 180-day mark: Sunday, November 15, 2026
- Booking opens: Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. ET
- Start your request by: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Use the Wreath Date Calculator to find your exact dates. If you are booking from outside the Eastern time zone, convert 7:00 p.m. ET to your local time and set two alarms.
Wreath Date Calculator
Enter the date you want to lay your wreath. We’ll show you exactly when to start your request and when booking opens.
3. Initiate Your Ceremony Request at Least One Week Early
You can’t simply show up online on booking night. First you need to start a request so Arlington has your group’s information on file. Do this at least one week before booking opens.
- Go to Arlington National Cemetery’s Request a Ceremony page.
- Click “Initiate a Ceremony Request.”
- Choose the public wreath ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
- Fill out your school’s information: school name, group leader, contact email and phone, and your desired date.
- Submit the request and save any confirmation for your records.
4. Watch for Your Scheduling Email
After you submit, you’ll receive an email with a link to schedule your wreath-laying ceremony. That link is your ticket on booking night. Keep it somewhere you can open it in seconds.
DON’T MISS IT
- Check your spam and promotions folders.
- Forward the email to a co-teacher or your Student Adventures Tour Consultant as a backup.
- Open the link ahead of time to make sure it works and to see what information it asks for.
- If the email doesn’t arrive within a few days, call Arlington at 877-907-8585 (open daily, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.).
5. Be Ready Before 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time
This is the step that makes or breaks your ceremony. Time slots are released at exactly 7:00 p.m. ET and they go extremely fast, especially in spring, the busiest season for school trips. Treat it like buying concert tickets.
- Be at a computer with a reliable internet connection by 6:45 p.m. ET. Avoid your phone if you can.
- Have your scheduling link already open.
- Keep your first-choice time and backup time written in front of you.
- Have every piece of information you’ll need ready to type or paste: school name, group leader, email, phone, and number of participants.
- Refresh the page right at 7:00 p.m. ET.
6. Book Your Time as Fast as Possible
When the slots appear, select your first-choice time and enter your information as quickly and accurately as you can. If your first choice is already gone, move straight to your backup without hesitating. A few seconds really can matter. Once you’re booked, look for your confirmation and share it with your Student Adventures team so we can build your itinerary around the ceremony.
7. Prepare Your Wreath and Your Four Participants
Each group may have up to four participants lay the wreath, and your group provides the wreath. Many schools add a ribbon with the school name, and choosing who carries it can be a meaningful moment in itself. Groups often select students through an essay, a leadership award, or a connection to a veteran in their family.
Participants must follow Arlington’s dress code for public wreath ceremonies. The minimum standard is business casual, and cemetery staff can stop someone in inappropriate attire from participating.
What to wear
- Collared shirt (dress shirt or polo) with trousers and a belt
- Knee-length skirt, non-denim trousers, or an appropriate dress with shoulders covered
- Dress shoes or nice flats
- School uniforms are fine when a school official confirms they follow the uniform policy
What not to wear
- Jeans or denim of any kind
- Shorts (unless part of an official uniform)
- T-shirts, tank tops, or athletic wear
- Ripped clothing or exposed midriffs
- Sneakers, flip-flops, or open-toed shoes
8. What to Expect on Ceremony Day
Plan to arrive early. Everyone goes through security screening, and adults 18 and older entering the cemetery by vehicle through the security checkpoints must show a REAL ID-compliant ID. Visitors who walk in from the Welcome Center go through standard screening. Food is not allowed in the cemetery.
Many groups watch the Changing of the Guard before or after their ceremony. It happens every hour on the hour from October 1 through March 31, and every half hour from April 1 through September 30. Everyone is asked to stand and remain silent.
During the wreath ceremony, members of the Tomb Guard escort your participants as they present the wreath. Taps plays, and the rest of your group stands quietly nearby, with civilians placing their right hand over their heart. It lasts only a few minutes, but students tend to remember it for the rest of their lives.
GOOD TO KNOW
Arlington schedules all ceremonies at its discretion and may cancel or reschedule them for official government ceremonies or bad weather. Build a little flexibility into the day, and talk to your students beforehand about why silence and respect matter so much at the Tomb.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a school group really lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?
Yes. Public wreath ceremonies are open to the general public, including school groups. You just need to request and book a time through Arlington National Cemetery.
How far in advance can we book?
Up to 180 days ahead. Booking opens at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time the evening before the 180-day mark, so start your request at least a week before that.
What if every time slot is taken?
Check whether a nearby date on your itinerary still has openings, and talk with your Student Adventures Tour Consultant. Even without a ceremony, visiting the Tomb and watching the Changing of the Guard is one of the most moving parts of any D.C. trip.
How many students can lay the wreath?
Up to four participants per ceremony. The rest of your group can watch from the plaza.
Does the cemetery provide the wreath?
No. Your group provides the wreath. Your Student Adventures team can help you plan for it.
Can we book more than one ceremony?
Arlington allows one wreath ceremony per group, per day.
Give your students a moment they will never forget.
Student Adventures helps teachers plan every detail of their Washington, D.C. trip, including fitting an Arlington wreath ceremony into the itinerary. Let’s start planning yours.
Booking rules are set by Arlington National Cemetery and may change; always confirm details on the cemetery’s official website.