United States National Cemetery

United States National Cemetery. The United States National Cemetery system was established by Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War to provide a final resting place for Union Army soldiers who died in service. The first national cemetery was established at Gettysburg National Cemetery in Pennsylvania in 1863, and it was dedicated by Abraham Lincoln in his famous Gettysburg Address. The system has since expanded to include cemeteries in nearly every state, including Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, Golden Gate National Cemetery in California, and Long Island National Cemetery in New York.

● History

The history of the United States National Cemetery system is closely tied to the American Civil War and the efforts of Quincy Adams Gillmore, Henry Halleck, and Edwin Stanton to establish a system for burying and honoring fallen soldiers. The first national cemetery was established at Gettysburg National Cemetery in Pennsylvania in 1863, and it was dedicated by Abraham Lincoln in his famous Gettysburg Address, which was attended by Frederick Douglass, Ulysses S. Grant, and William Tecumseh Sherman. The system was expanded during World War I and World War II to include cemeteries in Europe, such as Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France, and Pacific Theater of Operations, such as National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. The system has also been used to honor soldiers who died in other conflicts, including the Korean War and the Vietnam War, with cemeteries such as Punchbowl Crater in Hawaii and Fort Logan National Cemetery in Colorado.

● Lists_of_United_States_National_Cemeteries

There are currently 151 national cemeteries in the United States, including Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, Golden Gate National Cemetery in California, and Long Island National Cemetery in New York. Other notable cemeteries include Andersonville National Cemetery in Georgia, Antietam National Cemetery in Maryland, and Battleground National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.. The system also includes cemeteries in Puerto Rico, such as Puerto Rico National Cemetery, and in Guam, such as Guam National Cemetery. The cemeteries are managed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and are also supported by organizations such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Disabled American Veterans.

● Notable_Interments

Many notable Americans are buried in national cemeteries, including John F. Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, Robert F. Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, and Medgar Evers at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Other notable interments include Audie Murphy at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, Jimmy Doolittle at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, and Glenn Miller at Memorial Cemetery in Luxembourg. The cemeteries also include the graves of Tuskegee Airmen, such as Noel F. Parrish at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, and Buffalo Soldiers, such as Henry O. Flipper at Fort Sill National Cemetery in Oklahoma.

● Administration

The United States National Cemetery system is administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, which is responsible for maintaining the cemeteries and providing burial services for eligible veterans. The department is headed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. The system is also supported by organizations such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Disabled American Veterans, which provide assistance to veterans and their families. The cemeteries are also maintained by the National Park Service, which is responsible for preserving the historic and cultural resources of the cemeteries.

● Eligibility_for_Burial

Eligibility for burial in a national cemetery is determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and is generally limited to veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces and their spouses and dependents. Eligible veterans include those who have served in the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve components. The department also provides burial services for Prisoners of War and Missing in Action personnel, such as those who were lost during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The cemeteries also include the graves of Medal of Honor recipients, such as Dakota Meyer at Gloucester County Veterans Cemetery in New Jersey.

● Notable_Cemeteries

Some of the most notable national cemeteries include Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, which is the final resting place of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, and Gettysburg National Cemetery in Pennsylvania, which is the site of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Other notable cemeteries include Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France, which honors the soldiers who died during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, and National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii, which honors the soldiers who died in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. The cemeteries are also a testament to the sacrifices of soldiers who died in other conflicts, including the American Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and the Korean War, with cemeteries such as Vicksburg National Cemetery in Mississippi and Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Nebraska. Category:National cemeteries in the United States