WETA to Debut Documentary on Arlington National Cemetery

WETA-TV 26 will debut an hour-long documentary Wednesday about Arlington National Cemetery.

Arlington National Cemetery explores the history, mission and daily operations of the final resting place for more than 400,000 Americans. The hour-long documentary captures how the revered place brings so much meaning to the living and considers why the site remains a top tourist destination, drawing more than three million visitors a year. 

Arlington National Cemetery premieres Wednesday at 8 p.m. on WETA-TV 26 and WETA-HD and will air throughout the month.

“As Washington’s leading public television station, we are honored to showcase this landmark of both great national importance and local significance,” said Kevin Harris, vice president and TV station manager at WETA, which is based in Shirlington.

“Arlington National Cemetery is a place that links the past to the present by paying respect to those who dedicated their lives to serving the nation," he said.

The documentary from the WETA-TV 26 production team features more than 20 interviews with cemetery staff, military personnel and family members of the fallen to create a powerful and poignant look at this 624-acre cemetery.

Beyond exploring the cemetery’s well-known landmarks — including Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial; Tomb of the Unknowns; and the President John F. Kennedy Gravesite — the WETA production team takes viewers behind the scenes to meet the people who manage the cemetery’s daily operation and maintain its grounds throughout the seasons.

The look at the nation’s most sacred final resting place, the program also covers the challenges of expansion and the recent scandals of mismanagement and gravesite discrepancies.