Founded in 1917, Columbia Gardens, family operated through four generations, has served Northern Vir
08/29/2025
This Labor Day, we remember one of Arlington’s finest. George Kirschbaum, Sr. was the oldest surviving Arlington County firefighter at 95 years of age. Well-liked and respected, George was known as a firefighter's firefighter to his colleagues. He retired as the Station Commander of Station 1 when it was located on South Edgewood Street.
Our office will be closed on Monday, September 1, in observance of Labor Day. As always, our grounds will remain open for visiting from dawn until dusk.
08/27/2025
What a lot the Dew Crew accomplished this summer at Columbia Gardens! Our groundskeeping crew of 30 high school and college students excavated 30,000 pounds of dirt and rocks • w**d whacked the equivalent of 30 miles • produced 44,800 pounds of green waste from w**ding, pruning and trimming • watered 50 trees and 10-15 acres of grass daily • and consumed 2600 popsicles over the course of the summer! At our annual BBQ for the Dew Crew members and their families, Doug Barroga and all of the Columbia Gardens team bid the crew a fond farewell with many thanks for a job well done.
08/13/2025
Save the date for our annual Fall Family Celebration, Saturday, October 25, 12:00 —3:00 pm. We hope you’ll join us for fun, outdoor activities for children and adults.
08/07/2025
Deer double take! These two lovely, look-alike deer were spotted in the Memorial Rose Garden early one morning. They seem to enjoy being near our roses!
07/25/2025
Daun Thomas Frankland, President of Columbia Gardens Cemetery, has been named 1st Vice President of the Virginia Cemetery Association (VCA). A VCA board member since 2018, Frankland headed up the planning committee for the association's 77th annual meeting, “Cemeteries Reimagined: Cultivating a Welcoming Atmosphere to Shatter Stigmas and Inspire Celebrations,” held in Lynchburg in June. The program featured inspiring talks from John Bolton, President, International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association; Mary Pope Hutson, President of Sweet Briar College; Dr. Rev. Joe Cobb, Mayor of Roanoke; and Amber Caron, Director of Communications for Wreaths Across America. “My involvement with VCA is incredibly rewarding, offering the opportunity to engage with members across the state, share challenges, learn from others, and turn those insights into action,” Frankland says.
07/17/2025
Our beautiful, new road is now open! Visitors may now enter through the Arlington Boulevard entrance. This major project was more than three years in the making, from permitting and planning to construction. At every stage, our team worked closely with Arlington County to be in compliance with Stormwater Management guidelines, including implementing soil and erosion controls during the construction process. The road connects the new Garden of Reflection section with the heritage sections of the cemetery. When completed this fall, the five-acre Garden will feature green burial sites, cremation niches and traditional burial plots.
07/03/2025
All of us at Columbia Gardens wish you and your family an enjoyable, relaxing 4th of July. Our office will be closed Friday and Saturday in observance of the holiday. As always, our grounds will be open for visiting from dawn to dusk.
06/18/2025
Juneteenth Day on June 19 commemorates the end of slavery after the Civil War. Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, resilience and the ongoing journey toward equality.
06/13/2025
This year, June 14 marks two important milestones in our country’s history. Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the U.S. flag on June 14, 1777. It is also the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States Army. The Frankland family has a proud legacy of Army service, with three generations of graduates from the United States Military Academy West Point: Wally Frankland, his father Walter L. Frankland, Jr., and his daughter Leslie V. Frankland. On June 14, we honor our flag and the history of the U.S. Army.
06/06/2025
On June 1, 17 bird watchers enjoyed an interesting morning at a bird walk for beginners led by Arlington Regional Master Naturalists (ARMN) through Columbia Gardens Cemetery. The birders observed 19 species, including a sighting of a red-tailed hawk being mobbed by crows and blue jays. Afterwards, Daun Thomas Frankland, President, Columbia Gardens Cemetery, hosted refreshments for the birders.
05/27/2025
Arlington Regional Master Naturalists (ARMN) is hosting a bird walk for beginners at Columbia Gardens Cemetery on Sunday, June 1, 8:30 to 10:00 am. Columbia Gardens is considered a “birding hot spot” by ebird.org. Sign up here for the walk.
Our office will be closed on Memorial Day, May 26. The cemetery will remain open for visiting from dawn to dusk. Please note: the Arlington Boulevard entrance to the cemetery is closed due to construction. Please enter through our Oakland Street or 2nd Road North gates. To view a map showing the location of the gates, visit https://www.columbiagardenscemetery.org
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Columbia Gardens Cemetery has been family owned for four generations, continuously since our founding in 1917. It has been described as Arlington County’s community cemetery. We invite our neighbors and area residents to walk our winding paths and enjoy the towering trees and beautiful gardens on our grounds.
Columbia Gardens Cemetery is multicultural and non-denominational.
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Columbia Gardens is one of the few cemeteries in the Northern Virginia area that offers a wide range of options for memorials, including upright monuments and memorials, flat markers and private mausoleums.
Burial and Interment Options
In an era where cemeteries are often owned by corporations, our family has watched over Columbia Gardens for over 400 seasons – over 100 years. We have served as trusted stewards of the memories of families and friends. You are welcome to visit our grounds to be comforted, or to find a peaceful place for reflection, whatever the season.
OUR STAFF
For us, it’s all about you and the needs of your family. That means that Daun Thomas Frankland and our staff take a hands-on approach to the overall care of Columbia Gardens, and the interment sites located here. And, it means making sure the immediate needs and concerns of your family, especially at a time of grief, are respected and met. Our mission is to listen to you and respond with very personal service for the care of your loved ones.
