Arlington Cemetery Is Running Out of Space. Two Senators from Opposite Parties Are Trying to Fix That

On a beautiful sunny Wednesday in Arlington, Virginia, Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) seemed happy to be out of their offices. But they didn't take the trip just outside of Washington, D.C., for fun, they had important work to do, and it was not work they took lightly.

In the shadow of the United States Air Force Memorial, the senators would view plans for a much-needed expansion to the southern end of Arlington National Cemetery.

With the cemetery conducting nearly 30 burials a day, space is at a premium. In its current state, the cemetery won't be able to conduct first internments by 2041, explained Karen Durham-Aguilera, executive director of Army National Military Cemeteries.

“The Army recognizes that the nation is at a critical point in the cemetery's history,” Durham-Aguilera said. “Current projections show Arlington National Cemetery will reach maximum capacity in the early 2040s. This means that a veteran from the 1991 Gulf War who lives to his or her normal life expectancy will not have the choice to be interred at Arlington.”

While the two senators present on Wednesday may come from opposing political parties — and vastly different states — it was clear from their statements that they both intend to do everything in their power to do right by America's fallen.

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