National Cemetery Administration
Vancouver Barracks National Cemetery
Please note: Cemetery offices are off-site. Willamette National Cemetery oversees this cemetery.
Visitation Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk.
Office Hours at Willamette National Cemetery: Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day (8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) and Veterans Day (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
This cemetery has space available to accommodate cremated remains only.
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.
From Portland International Airport: Head northwest on NE Airport Way to merge onto I-205 N. Take exit 27 toward Vancouver, keep left at the fork and merge onto WA-14 W. In approximately 5 miles, take I-5 N toward Seattle. Take exit Fourth Plain Blvd exit, proceed East approximately one block, and the cemetery will be on the left.
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.
The office for the cemetery is located off-site. Willamette National Cemetery oversees this cemetery, please call 503-273-5250.
Please note there are no restroom facilities at the cemetery.
For educational materials and additional information on this cemetery, please visit the Education section, located below.
Floral arrangements accompanying the casket or urn at the time of burial will be placed on the completed grave. Natural cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time of the year. They will be removed when they become unsightly or when it becomes necessary to facilitate cemetery operations such as mowing.
Artificial flowers and potted plants will be permitted on graves between November 1 and March 1. As a rule, artificial flowers and potted plants will be allowed on graves for a period extending five days before through five days after Easter Sunday and Memorial Day.
Holiday wreaths, grave pillows (2x2) and other seasonal adornments may be placed on graves from December 7 through January 5. They may not be secured to headstones or markers.
Permanent plantings, statues, vigil lights, breakable objects and similar items are not permitted on the graves. The Department of Veterans Affairs does not permit adornments that are considered offensive, inconsistent with the dignity of the cemetery or considered hazardous to cemetery personnel. For example, items incorporating beads or wires may become entangled in mowers or other equipment and cause injury.
During the mowing season, arrangements are removed from gravesites on a weekly basis or when they become withered and unsightly.
VA regulations 38 CFR 1.218 prohibit the carrying of firearms (either openly or concealed), explosives or other dangerous or deadly weapons while on VA property, except for official purposes, such as military funeral honors.
Possession of firearms on any property under the charge and control of VA is prohibited. Offenders may be subject to a fine, removal from the premises, or arrest.
Vancouver Barracks Post Cemetery became a VA National Cemetery on March 6, 2020, when it was transferred to NCA by the Department of the Army in fulfillment of Executive Order 13781 and the VA's own Agency Reform plan. It was the fifth cemetery transferred to the NCA by the Army since June 2019.
Vancouver Barracks was established in 1849 as the first U.S. Army post in the Pacific Northwest. It closed as an active post in 2011. The cemetery contains more than 1,500 occupied gravesites, including U.S. military personnel, civilians, foreign personnel, German and Italian POW's, Native Americans and Unknowns.
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Recipients receive the Medal of Honor from the President on behalf of Congress. It was first awarded during the Civil War and the eligibility criteria, medal design, and recognition on a recipients' grave marker have all evolved over time. There are 390 Medal of Honor recipients interred in VA national cemeteries.
» Medal of Honor recipients buried or memorialized here:
First Sergeant James M. Hill (Indian War Campaigns). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, 5th U.S. Cavalry, for "Gallantry in action" at Turret Mountain, AZ, on March 25, 1873. Hill died in 1919 and is buried in Section 4W, Grave 650.
First Lieutenant William W. McCammon (American Civil War). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company E, 24th Missouri Infantry, for actions in Corinth, MS, on October 3, 1862. Citation: "While on duty as provost marshal, voluntarily assumed command of his company, then under fire, and so continued in command until the repulse and retreat of the enemy on the following day, the loss to this company during the battle being very great." McCammon died in 1903 and is buried in Section 4W, Grave 412.
Musician Herman Pfisterer (War with Spain). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company H, 21st Infantry, for actions in Santiago, Cuba, on July 1, 1898. Citation: "Gallantly assisted in the rescue of the wounded from in front of the lines and under heavy fire from the enemy." Pfisterer died in 1905 and is buried in Section 4E, Grave 448.
First Sergeant Moses Williams (Indian War Campaigns). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company I, 9th U.S. Cavalry, for actions at foothills of the Cuchillo Negro Mountains, New Mexico, on August 16, 1881. Citation: "Rallied a detachment, skillfully conducted a running fight of 3 or 4 hours, and by his coolness, bravery, and unflinching devotion to duty in standing by his commanding officer in an exposed position under a heavy fire from a large party of Indians saved the lives of at least three of his comrades." Williams died in 1899 and is buried in Section 8W, Grave 393.
We are developing educational content for this national cemetery, and will post new materials as they become available. Visit the Veterans Legacy Program and NCA History Program for additional information. Thank you for your interest.
