Every year, Veterans Day provides Americans the opportunity to reflect on the many sacrifices servicemen and women have made for our country and thank them for their service. Celebrated on Nov. 11 of every year, Veterans Day began in 1919 to honor members of the U.S. armed forces on the anniversary of the end of the first world war. A few years later in 1921, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was established and became the final resting place for the remains of an unknown World War I soldier to commemorate the sacrifices made by American servicemen and women.

Nov. 11, 2021, marks the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. For the first time since its opening, the public will be able to walk onto the plaza and lay a flower at the base of the Tomb. The Arlington National Cemetery Public Flower Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier will begin the morning of Nov. 9-10, 2021. On Nov. 11, Veterans Day, the public is invited to observe a full honors procession, replicating the original Unknown Soldier’s 1921 funeral procession. To watch these events live, click here.  

To commemorate the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery has created numerous lesson plans for educators to use in the classroom. These materials are designed for K-12 students and teachers. Lesson plans include:

• Who’s Buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?
• Veterans Day
• The Unknown Soldier and National Community
• Memorial Day

There are also opportunities for self-guided walking tours if a trip to Arlington National Cemetery is in your future. To learn more about the #Tomb100 events and educational materials, please click here. Keep an eye out for more educational modules from the Arlington National Cemetery over the next five years as the cemetery aims to cover several topics about the contributions of American service members in the arts, medicine, technology, and much more!