What is the name of the large U.S. military cemetery where Memorial Day ceremonies are held near Washington, D.C.?

Arlington National Cemetery is the large U.S. military cemetery near Washington, D.C., where major Memorial Day ceremonies are held.

The cemetery occupies the former Arlington estate across the Potomac River from the capital. It was established during the Civil War in 1864, when the federal government needed additional burial space for Union dead. Arlington later became a national site of remembrance for service members from many American conflicts.

Memorial Day ceremonies there include presidential participation, military honors, and public wreath-laying events. Arlington is sometimes confused with Arlington House, the historic mansion on the grounds, or with nearby military memorials. The cemetery also contains the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but that tomb is only one part of the larger burial ground.