The first national cemeteries began at the start of the Civil War, during the early 1860s, to bury and honor the United States soldiers who fell in battle. By 1862, more than a dozen national cemeteries were established, and in 1870, nearly 300,000 Union soldiers lay buried in 73 national cemeteries.
Initially created as a necessity, by 1873, burial was offered to any U.S. Veteran of the Civil War within a national cemetery to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
State and Federal
The United States has two kinds of veteran cemeteries: federal and state. Every national cemetery is overseen by the federal government and operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The local state government operates state cemeteries.
The primary difference between the two types of cemeteries is the eligibility requirements, while state cemeteries may each have different requirements.
Emotional Significance
While historically a necessity, today, national and state cemeteries that honor veterans and military members have a deep, personal, and poignant significance for the families, fellow soldiers who served with them, and friends of the fallen.
While Memorial Day and November 11th hold great significance for veterans, military members, and civilians alike—a national cemetery is a reminder of American history, heartwrenching loss, and a place to grieve and remember.
For many active military members, their families, and veterans, visiting a national cemetery can be emotionally taxing and a means to work through complex mourning and PTSD. Many survivors feel a debt of gratitude to comrades who have fallen while struggling with survivor's guilt.
For some, it is also a place for them to tell their story, or the stories of the fallen, preserving their history and allowing for veterans and military members to deal with the psychological impact of war, work through loss, and an essential step in grieving. National cemeteries are sacred spaces for those actively serving, retired, or mourning. These spaces respect the departed and provide a sense of solace and connection to comrades in arms.
Grief is a powerful and multifaceted experience; add to that experience with active duty and serving in combat, and these national cemeteries become a safe and accepting environment for experiencing these complicated emotions, which in turn can facilitate the long journey of healing.
Honoring Veterans and History
Another vital aspect of national cemeteries is that they allow American civilians to gain a much deeper understanding of the experiences of those who have served. Countless national and state cemeteries around the nation hold events, ceremonies, and opportunities to learn the history and stories of those buried within through conversations and first-hand accounts of the challenges military members faced and the resilience displayed in wartime and active duty.
Sharing these stories is a critical aspect of sharing moments in history that should never be forgotten, reminding us that freedom is not free and safeguarding it can leave a lasting, life-long mark upon those who serve and their families.
Visiting a national cemetery as a civilian is also a chance to extend our empathy and gratitude, supporting our military community. No active military persons or veterans served alone.
Why We Need to Preserve National Cemeteries
Preserving our national cemeteries is critical to maintaining our history and understanding the hardships of forebearers who sacrificed so that generations after them could live in freedom.
In addition to remembering the sacrifices of those who have gone before, national cemeteries hold objects of art and intangible heritage. The value of preserving these sacred spaces allows us to understand our past, present, and what we value as a society.
National cemeteries unravel a wealth of information about the eras and almost insurmountable challenges our soldiers faced in the past and today, and they are a crucial aspect for families wishing to trace their proud history of service.
National cemeteries are living museums, testaments to the strength of humanity in the face of overwhelming odds, and spaces for the stories of the living and the dead. National cemeteries hold immense educational value, offering real-world examples of the continuing efforts our country has made to remain free.
By visiting and listening to the narratives told and preserving them, we become custodians of the countless individuals laid to rest. We safeguard the heritage of those who fought with everything they had to keep our country safe. They are an enduring link between the past and today's generation, allowing the voices and memories of the fallen to live on.