SGT Barun Rai, 24, died on August 3, 2011 in Logar Province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained during a vehicle rollover. He was a supply clerk and a unit armorer to 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Warner Barracks, Bamberg, Germany. SGT Barun Rai, born in 1987 in Kathmandu, Nepal, was the oldest and second of three children of Mr. Kusum Rai and Mrs. Pushpa Rai. He attended Araniko Secondary Boarding School in Kathmandu from Kindergarten to seventh grade and Modern Preparatory Secondary English School in Itahari -1, Sunsari from eighth through ninth grade. In 2003, Barun and his family immigrated to the United States and settled in Silver Spring, Maryland. He attended Montgomery Blair High School and graduated on June 2005. Upon completion of his high school, Barun enlisted in the US ARMY. He served in the ARMY from 2006 – 2011. In his five-year military career, he completed one Iraq tour and was currently deployed in Logar Province, Afghanistan. He is survived by his parents and brother Karun Rai and sister Sushma Rai. Rai family would like to invite all the friends, family and community members who wish to pay tribute to Sergeant Barun Rai.

Venue and Time:
Date: Friday, 2 September 2011
Time: 1130 – 1400
Venue: Arlington National Cemetery
              Arlington, Virginia 22211

Dress Code: Formal

Attendees:

1.       When entering the gate, please let the security guards know that you are there to attend “SGT Barun Rai’s Funeral Service”. The guard will then direct you to the Administration Building.

2.       Be advised, all attendees should be present at the Arlington National Cemetery Administration Building’s Parking lot no later than 1200. Only close family will enter the building for administrative work, all others should wait in the parking lot. Once the family completes the administrative work, everybody will proceed to the burial site together. Ceremony starts at 1300 and will last for an hour.

3.       If you wish to bring flowers, please keep it inside the vehicle until the funeral service is complete.

Tentative time line:

1145 - 1200: Close family member arrives and enter the Administration building.

1145 – 1215: Attendees will arrive and wait at the Administration Building Parking Lot.

1220 – 1245: Family and attendees will proceed toward the Burial site.

1245 – 1300: Everybody will be seated.

1300 - 1400: Ceremony

Driving Direction to Arlington National Cemetery

The ZIP CODE for Arlington National Cemetery is 22211. Use internet search engines for obtaining latest maps to the area.

On Memorial Drive:

There will be a security guard who will be directing all traffic into the Visitors Center parking facility. If you are visiting the cemetery for a funeral, stay to the right on Memorial Drive and inform the security guard that you are attending a funeral. Please provide the name of the decedent to the guide. If you are going to a service at the Administration Building, please continue on Memorial Drive until it ends and then take a left onto Eisenhower Drive into the cemetery. Take a second left into the Administration Building parking lot. If you are attending a chapel service prior to a funeral, you will no longer be able to drive to the Old Post Chapel or Memorial Chapel on Joint-Base Myer-Henderson Hall (formerly Fort Myer) from Arlington National Cemetery without DoD decals on your vehicle and the appropriate identification (government-issued photo ID, valid driver license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance).

From Richmond, Virginia:
Drive north on Interstate 95. Near the Capital Beltway, I-95 will merge with Interstate 495. Do NOT merge onto I-495. Continue traveling north on Interstate 395 north toward Washington, D.C. Take exit 8-B (Arlington National Cemetery exit) to Route 27. Stay in the left lane until reaching the traffic circle (on the Virginia side of the Memorial Bridge). Bear right in the left hand lane around the traffic the circle to Memorial Drive. You will see the Arlington House on the hill ahead.

From Frederick, Maryland:
Travel south on Route 270. Near Interstate 495, the lanes will split. Stay to the right and follow the signs to Virginia. You will merge with the I-495 and continue traveling south. Upon crossing the American Legion Bridge (leaving Maryland and entering Virginia), get in the right lane and take the first exit to the George Washington Parkway. Continue on the GW Parkway and then take the Arlington Cemetery-Memorial Bridge exit. Merge left with the traffic exiting from Route 110. At the stop sign, make a left onto Memorial Drive. See the directions above for arriving on Memorial Drive.

From Baltimore, Maryland:
Drive south on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (MD – 295) or south on Interstate 95 until you reach to the Capital Beltway (I-495). You can travel on either I-95 or on I-495. If you follow I-95, stay on the Beltway to I-395 north and then take exit 8-B (Arlington National Cemetery exit) to Route 27. Stay in the left lane until reaching the traffic circle (on the Virginia side of the Memorial Bridge). Bear right in the left hand lane around the traffic the circle to Memorial Drive. You will see the Arlington House on the hill ahead. If you follow I-495, stay on the Beltway to the George Washington Parkway. Continue on the GW Parkway and then take the Arlington Cemetery-Memorial Bridge exit. Merge left with the traffic exiting from Route 110. At the stop sign, make a left onto Memorial Drive. See the directions above for arriving on Memorial Drive.

From Western Virginia:
Follow Route 66 east to exit 73 for Lee Highway. Follow Lee Highway to Fort Myer Drive. Make a right on to Fort Myer Drive. Follow Fort Myer Drive, and immediately after passing over a bridge, make a left on Route 50. The Iwo Jima Memorial will be to your right. Follow Route 50 and stay in the right hand lane. Exit onto George Washington Parkway and stay in the right hand lane. Follow the GW Parkway until you see a sign for Arlington National Cemetery. Take the exit to Arlington National Cemetery and stay to your left. At the stop sign, make a left turn onto Memorial Drive. See the directions above for arriving on Memorial Drive.

Helpful Links:
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/visitor_information/hours-parking.html
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/directions.html

For further information Please Contact Friend's of Rai Family:

·         Samrakshak Singh Regmi   samrakshak@gmail.com          240-449-6858

·         Signor Rana                          signor.rana@gmail.com            678-371-2963