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You are quite wrong. Arlington is not reserved for only those who have received the Purple Heart of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Here are the rules:
FOR GROUND BURIAL
1. Any member of the armed forces who dies on Active Duty may be buried in Arlington.
2. Members retired from active military service.
3. Members retired from the Reserves who meet the following criteria: reached the age of 60, drawing military retired pay, and served a period of active duty ( other than for training).
4. Former prisoners of war, who while prisoners of war, served honorably, whose last period of active military service terminated honorably, and who died on or after 30 Nov 1993.
5. Honorably discharged veterans, not otherwise qualified, who also have held high positions in the federal government.
6. Former members of the armed force, not entitled to retired pay, separated from active duty for a physical disability of 30% or more on the day of discharge before 1 Oct 1949,
7. Former members of the armed forces, not entitled to retired pay, separated from active duty( other than for training) and terminated honorably, who have been awarded one of the following decorations, MOH, DSC,DSM, Silver Star, or Purple Heart.
8. Spouses, unmarried minor children younger than 21 ( or age 23 if attending college) of persons listed above and persons already buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
9. Unmarried adult children of an eligible person if they become permanently incapable of self support because of a mental or physical disability incurred before the age of 21.
10. Surviving spouse of a previously interred sponsoring person.

FOR COLUMBARIUM:
1 Any member of the armed forces who dies on active duty.
2. Members retired from active military service.
3. Any former member of the armed forces who served on active duty (other than for training) and whose last service ended honorably.
4. A member on authorized inactive duty training, including training performed as a member of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard (23USC,502).
5.Certain Reserve and ROTC members who die while on active duty, while training or on authorized travel, or while hospitalized as the result of active duty, training, or authorized travel.
6. American members of allied forces whose last service ended honorably.
7. Certain commissioned officers of NOAA or USPHS.
8. A former member of a group that has been certified as active military service for the purpose of receiving VA benefits under the provisions of Section 401, P>I>95-202.
9. The spouse, unmarried minor or dependent adult child of any of the above.
10. the surviving spouse of a previously interred person. Taken from the MOAA Guide to Military Burials. I hope this answers the question of who is eligible for Arlington National Cemetery.