National Cemetery Administration

Visitation Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk.

Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed federal holidays.

This cemetery has space available to accommodate casketed and cremated remains.

Burial in a national cemetery is open to all members of the armed forces who have met a minimum active duty service requirement and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

A Veteran's spouse, widow or widower, minor dependent children, and under certain conditions, unmarried adult children with disabilities may also be eligible for burial. Eligible spouses and children may be buried even if they predecease the Veteran.

Members of the reserve components of the armed forces who die while on active duty or who die while on training duty, or were eligible for retired pay, may also be eligible for burial.

» Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery

Fax all discharge documentation to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-866-900-6417 and follow-up with a phone call to 1-800-535-1117.

For information on scheduled burials in our national cemeteries, please go to the Daily Burial Schedule.

Military Funeral Honors
Upon request, military funeral honors can be provided by the Department of Defense. At a minimum, the Department of Defense military funeral honors ceremony consists of a two-person uniformed detail folding and presenting the flag and the playing of "Taps". Taps is played by a ceremonial bugle, or electronic recording (CD or tape) if a live bugler is unavailable. Arrangements for military funeral honors are the responsibility of the funeral director and/or the family. After confirming your service time with the National Cemetery Scheduling Office, 1-800-535-1117, please schedule military funeral honors by contacting the following: Military Funeral Honors Program Office, 877-944-6667.

For educational materials and additional information on this cemetery, please visit the Education section, located below.

• Fresh cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time of the year. Portable cone containers for flowers can be found throughout the cemetery in stone containers. Flowers will be disposed of by cemetery personnel when they are withered, faded or otherwise unsightly.
• Artificial flowers may only be placed on graves from October 1 through April 1 because the wires from artificial flowers have caused damage to the mowing equipment, and pose a safety hazard to workers and visitors during mowing operations. They will be removed when they are faded or unsightly.
• Floral items should only be placed at either side of headstones in line with the headstone row. This allows for equipment operations and prevents damage to floral items. Flower items should be placed at the bottom of a column at the Columbarium.
• Floral items and other types of decorations will not be secured to headstones, markers, or niches. NO GLASS or METAL of any kind is allowed.
• The cemetery assumes no responsibility for items left on gravesites. Due to the open nature of the grounds, we cannot guarantee against theft, vandalism, or the effects of nature.
• Planting of flowers, shrubs, potted plants, etc. are prohibited.
• Holiday wreaths or grave blankets may be placed on graves from November 1 through January 20. They will be removed after January 20 or when they become withered, faded or otherwise unsightly. Grave floral blankets cannot be larger in size than 2x3 feet. They cannot be secured to headstones or markers.
• Permanent plantings, statues, vigil lights, breakable objects, pinwheels, balloons, glass, shepherd's hooks, toys and stuffed animals and similar commemorative items are not permitted on the graves at any time.
• Small US, POW/MIA, US Armed Forces Branches, and Medal of Honor gravesite flags are authorized.
• Pets are not allowed in the National Cemetery. Working, licensed service dogs are permitted at any time.
• Sports or recreational activities of any kind are prohibited.
• Smoking and alcohol are not allowed on the grounds, in any building, or the committal shelter.

Northwoods National Cemetery is the fourth Rural Initiative cemetery to be built by the VA's National Cemetery Administration. The VA purchased the land in September 2015 and awarded a contract to build the cemetery in August 2017. The cemetery was dedicated in August 2020.