Fort Meade National Cemetery

Fort Meade National Cemetery
Haas, David W., creator · Public domain · source
Name	Fort Meade National Cemetery
Established	1878
Country	United States
State	Maryland
Location	Odenton, Maryland / Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Type	National cemetery
Owner	United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Size	6.4 acres
Interments	~2,300

Fort Meade National Cemetery is a United States national cemetery established in 1878 near Fort Meade, Maryland to serve veterans and military dependents, situated within the historical landscape of Anne Arundel County, Maryland adjacent to federal and state institutions. The cemetery has connections to regional military installations such as Fort Meade (Maryland), national veteran organizations like the Grand Army of the Republic, and federal agencies including the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. It is listed on national registers and appears in studies of post‑Civil War burial grounds, military veterans' commemoration, and National Cemeteries of the United States.

History

The cemetery was created in the late 19th century as part of post‑American Civil War efforts to provide burial space for Union veterans, with land associated with Fort Meade (Maryland), the U.S. Army installation established after the Civil War. Early interments include veterans of conflicts such as the American Civil War, the Spanish–American War, and later 20th‑century engagements including World War I and World War II. Over time the site reflected changing federal policies on veterans’ burial, including legislative developments like the creation of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers and administration shifts culminating in oversight by agencies precursor to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Historic ties connect the cemetery to regional institutions including Fort Howard and municipal centers in Baltimore County, Maryland and Howard County, Maryland.

Location and Description

Fort Meade National Cemetery is located near Odenton, Maryland and adjacent to the active Fort Meade (Maryland) installation and the National Security Agency complex, positioned within a corridor of federal, state, and commercial sites such as BWI Airport and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. The 6.4‑acre site features orderly rows of headstones typical of United States national cemeteries, a central flagstaff, and plantings consistent with 19th‑ and 20th‑century cemetery design influenced by landscape trends seen at Arlington National Cemetery and other national burial grounds. The topography is gently rolling, with access from local arterial roads serving surrounding communities including Severn, Maryland and Glen Burnie, Maryland.

Interments and Notable Burials

Interments number roughly 2,300, encompassing veterans of the American Civil War, the Indian Wars, the Philippine–American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Notable burials include veterans who served under commanders and units associated with events such as the Battle of Antietam and campaigns tied to Mid‑Atlantic recruitment, with service connections to regiments from Maryland. The cemetery contains markers for members of fraternal veterans’ organizations such as the Grand Army of the Republic and the American Legion, and graves of personnel who later worked for federal agencies like the United States Army and the Department of Defense.

Monuments and Features

Prominent features include a centrally placed flagpole and memorial markers that reflect federal commemorative practice evident at sites such as Gettysburg National Cemetery and Vicksburg National Military Park, with headstones standardized to styles adopted by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The cemetery contains ceremonial spaces used for observances connected to national holidays like Memorial Day (United States) and Veterans Day (United States), and it displays emblematic symbols used by veterans’ organizations including the Disabled American Veterans insignia. Landscape elements and stonework echo traditions seen at other 19th‑century national cemeteries established during the era of the National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.

Administration and Maintenance

Administration is conducted by the National Cemetery Administration under the umbrella of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, employing policies consistent with federal regulations governing national cemeteries, burial eligibility, and monument standards. Routine maintenance, groundskeeping, and ceremonial coordination involve collaboration with local veteran groups such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and municipal authorities in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and reflect standards shared with larger sites like Arlington National Cemetery and regional veterans’ cemeteries across the United States. Recordkeeping and interment data are maintained by the National Cemetery Administration and are accessible through federal veterans’ archives.

Access and Visiting Information

The cemetery is open to the public for visitation, subject to hours and rules administered by the National Cemetery Administration and local directives from Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Visitors often approach via regional gateways including Maryland Route 32 and Maryland Route 295, with nearby transit links to BWI Rail Station and regional roadways. Observances for Memorial Day (United States) and similar commemorations are announced through veteran organizations such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and on occasion coordinated with military ceremonies at Fort Meade (Maryland) and adjacent federal installations.

Category:United States national cemeteries Category:Cemeteries in Maryland Category:Anne Arundel County, Maryland