Access to Memorial Day ceremony at Fort Richardson National Cemetery May 26

  • Published
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  The Fort Richardson National
Cemetery is hosting a Memorial Day ceremony at noon, May 26, to honor our nation’s fallen
heroes.

Ceremonial music begins at 11:30 a.m. The keynote speaker is Verdie Bowen Sr., director,
Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs and a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. The ceremony
concludes at 1 p.m.

To streamline access for the public to attend this free event, the right-hand traffic lane of the Fort
Richardson Gate will be dedicated for controlled, direct access to and from the Fort Richardson
National Cemetery.

There will be no need to stop at the Richardson Visitor Control Center to receive a JBER visitor
pass between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.; visitors going to the National Cemetery
between these hours will simply enter the Richardson Gate through the right lane and be directed
on a specified route to the cemetery parking areas. Those who arrive prior to 10 a.m. or after
12:15 p.m. will be directed to the Richardson Visitor Control Center to obtain a visitor pass via
the normal process.

Once the ceremony ends and guests complete their visit at the cemetery, they will be directed off
the installation via the same route they entered.

Outside of the hours listed above, all U.S. citizens 16 or older requesting access to the cemetery
should expect criminal background checks for potential disqualifying information and, upon
successful screening, will be issued a visitor pass.

Non-U.S. citizens must have a Department of Defense-affiliated sponsor to escort them onto the
installation and must have requested access to JBER four weeks in advance to have additional
screening completed.

The direct-access process on May 26 is to and from the Fort Richardson National Cemetery, and
for the official Memorial Day ceremony only. Patrons found outside of the designated areas may
be charged with trespassing.

Media outlets interested in covering the Memorial Day ceremony must RSVP no later than noon,
May 22, to ensure base access to the event. Please provide the name of the reporter, media outlet
and contact number by sending an e-mail to jber.pa.mediaops@us.af.mil or call 907-551-8995.