Vamikey appropriately mentioned the Metro stops, and I noticed only now that you mentioned that you are not familiar with the DC area and how to get around.
The Tyson's Corner area is all office parks and shopping malls, so you will need a taxi, hotel shuttle, or rental car to get more or less anywhere. There are some nearby Metro stops (West Falls Church is the closest to many Tyson's hotels), but none are within walking distance of any likely hotel for you. You should plan your "me time" on Veteran's Day or any other time you are here so that you can spend the entire time in Metro-accessible places. Almost everywhere you might want to go in the District or close-in Maryland and Virginia is Metro accessible. However, DC is a city where tourists need to be prepared for walking as there are lots of big green spaces around the main sites. Be sure to bring some comfortable walking shoes.
If you haven't already booked your hotel, you might consider someplace in Foggy Bottom, Dupont Circle, or Woodley Park (Metro stops/neighborhoods in DC) or Roslyn in Arlington Virginia (just across the Potomac from Georgetown in DC). The Tyson's area is on the Beltway and is convenient for potential visitors driving from outer suburbs, so there are some who might be put off by a close-in location. However, there are others who will be more likely to come to visit. I am close to indifferent myself; Tyson's is better for me on weekends, but downtown is better on weekdays.
Hello Ladies & Gents,
I am going to be in DC on Veterans Day and wanted to see one of the ceremonies, being a Canadian I thought it would be interesting to see what the differences in ceremonies are and experience it first hand rather than on TV. I have a few questions, if someone could help.
I looked up the website with information on going to Arlington Cemetery, has anyone attended this and if so what time would one need to arrive there in order to be admitted (it said first come first serve) and what are the odds I wouldn't get in?
Is there another event that would be worthwhile? I'm not familiar with the city and getting around but if something is easy to find I'd really like to attend more than one event. Any and all help is appreciated.
Thanks!
-- Modified on 11/5/2011 2:52:28 PM
The link below should be a big help, as it gives you many options. Enjoy our beautiful city!
Hugs and Kisses
http://dc.about.com/od/hoildaysseasonalevents/a/VeteransDay.htm
The amphitheater at Arlington seats 5,000 so I would be surprised if it is a problem to get in. At Arlington, they do have security screening, so you need to arrive early enough to get through whatever security lines they have. However, the weather will probably be chilly by DC standards; probably only in the high 40s by late morning, which will discourage turnout. (I know this isn't much colder than Toronto, but a huge part of the DC area population has moved from states or countries where this is considered frigid.) Also, as the link that Beauty with Brains sent indicates, there are lots of observances all over the DC metro area to compete with the one at Arlington. The only wild card I can think of is if President Obama attends the one at Arlington. His schedule isn't posted yet on the White House website (check the evening before for updates at whitehouse.gov). If he will be at Arlington for the ceremony, expect much more interest and much more security.
The U.S. has two military holidays: Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) specifically commemorating soldiers that lost their lives in combat; and Veteran's Day (commemorating all veterans) on 11/11. The former tends to be the more important and solemn of the two for obvious reasons. Also, World War II is a much, much bigger deal for the U.S. than World War I, which the U.S. entered only after the European armies on both sides were at the verge of collapse. I don't know what Remembrance Day is like in Canada, but I have been in London a couple of times on the day. If, as in many other things, your practice is midway between the U.S. and the U.K. approaches, you might be a bit disappointed. For example, you won't see any poppies on lapels or everyone stopping on the streets at 11:11 for a moment of silence.
I would also like to wish you a wonderful time on our city.
Arlington Cemetery has its own stop on the Metro's Blue line, there is a Yellow/Green line stop at Navy Memorial; the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, Vietnam Women's Memorial and the WWII Memorial are all 7-10 blocks walk from Foggy Bottom Metro stop (the Smithsomian Metro station is about the same distance from the WWII memorial); the AF Memorial is a good hike (mostly uphill) from the Pentagon Metro station; the Marine Corps Museum & Mannassas are both pretty much reachable only by car; Mt. Vernon can be reached by Metro to Huntington Station & a Fairfax Connector bus, but that may not operate on Veteran's Day as it is a Federal Holiday.
As someone mentioned, if the President attends the Arlington ceremony the crowd will be bigger and security much tighter. If you want to do more than one thing, I would recommend going to Arlington by Metro (arrivng at least an hour early), then taking Metro back to Navy Memorial. As luck would have it, Navy Memorial is right on the southern edge of the Penn Quarter restaurant district, with maybe 30 restaurants nearby, so you could then go have a late lunch.
Vamikey appropriately mentioned the Metro stops, and I noticed only now that you mentioned that you are not familiar with the DC area and how to get around.
The Tyson's Corner area is all office parks and shopping malls, so you will need a taxi, hotel shuttle, or rental car to get more or less anywhere. There are some nearby Metro stops (West Falls Church is the closest to many Tyson's hotels), but none are within walking distance of any likely hotel for you. You should plan your "me time" on Veteran's Day or any other time you are here so that you can spend the entire time in Metro-accessible places. Almost everywhere you might want to go in the District or close-in Maryland and Virginia is Metro accessible. However, DC is a city where tourists need to be prepared for walking as there are lots of big green spaces around the main sites. Be sure to bring some comfortable walking shoes.
If you haven't already booked your hotel, you might consider someplace in Foggy Bottom, Dupont Circle, or Woodley Park (Metro stops/neighborhoods in DC) or Roslyn in Arlington Virginia (just across the Potomac from Georgetown in DC). The Tyson's area is on the Beltway and is convenient for potential visitors driving from outer suburbs, so there are some who might be put off by a close-in location. However, there are others who will be more likely to come to visit. I am close to indifferent myself; Tyson's is better for me on weekends, but downtown is better on weekdays.
Thank you so much to everyone, the information helps a lot.
Of course I would love if Obama was there, I've never attended any presidential address and feel it's one of those things I would like to do sometime (then again I could go my life without ever seeing George W and not feel like I am missing a thing) but the event itself will be an experience for me.
I am staying in a fairly central hotel so I'm hoping the Metro will be my easiest way to get around but wanted to make sure I was giving enough time to get there - what Google maps tells you and what the reality is are often very different.
Thanks again, I'm really looking forward to visiting your city!
President attends the Arlington ceremony, it will just be for a wreath-laying. I don't believe a speech is usually part of the ceremony, though he might make some brief remarks about the Veterans being honored.
Thank you, I guess I shouldn't have referred to it as an address but it would be a bonus for me if he attended as I might not have an opportunity to see him again - still my purpose for going is simply to see the ceremony it would just be icing on the cake to knock off two items on my TDL at once (it's my political duo). 
I figured I'd update this just to say thank you to everyone that provided me with some information. I was able to find my way to the service this morning and not only see a wonderful ceremony honouring your veterans but also hear the President speak. It was absolutely freezing out there today (even for a Canadian) but well worth it.
Thanks to everyone that posted in this thread or PM'd me, I really enjoyed my visit.
Also thanks to those that recommended the Holocaust Museum, it was very moving and gave me a new appreciation for your soldiers service.
Unfortunately it looks like your attempt to purchase VIP membership has failed due to your card being declined. Good news is that we have several other payment options that you could try.
We thank you for your purchase!
Membership should be activated shortly. You'll receive notification!
