Civil War Soldiers buried


John Harrelson

New Member
Each year millions of tourists vist Civil War battle sites and burial grounds.. Here is something new to visit and see.

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Civil War Soldiers to be Buried in Massachusetts National
Cemetery
WASHINGTON (June 12, 2006) - One hundred and forty-five years
after their deaths on a battlefield in northern Virginia, six Union
soldiers from the Civil War are returning home to Massachusetts. They
were buried with full military honors on June 10 at the Massachusetts
National Cemetery in Bourne.
"These soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice for the preservation
of our nation," said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of
Veterans Affairs. "We don't know their names. We cannot locate their
families. But we are honored to provide a lasting tribute to their
service on the hallowed grounds of a national cemetery."
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) buried the remains in a
VA-run cemetery, which is maintained in perpetuity as "a national
shrine," five weeks shy of the 145th anniversary of their deaths on July
18, 1861, the eve of the first battle of Manassas.
VA and the Massachusetts Sons of Union Veterans planned a burial
ceremony June 10 at 11:00 a.m. at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in
Bourne, Mass. The ceremony included Civil War re-enactors and full
military honors.
The remains were discovered in 1997 on a construction site in
Centreville, Va. Scientists from the Smithsonian Institute identified
the remains as soldiers of the 1st Massachusetts infantry who were
killed during a skirmish known as Blackburn's Ford. Scientists were
unable to establish the identities of the soldiers.
The Massachusetts Sons of Union Soldiers, working with Fairfax
County, Va., which had legal custody of the remains, arranged for the
transfer to their home state. Like other veterans of the armed forces,
the Civil War soldiers are eligible for burial in a VA-maintained
national cemetery.
Veterans with a discharge other than dishonorable, their spouses
and eligible dependent children can be buried in a national cemetery.
Other burial benefits available for all eligible veterans, regardless of
whether they are buried in a national cemetery or a private cemetery,
include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a
government headstone or marker.
In the midst of the largest cemetery expansion since the Civil
War, VA operates 123 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico,
and 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites. More than three million
Americans, including veterans of every war and conflict - from the
Revolutionary War to the current war against terrorism - are buried in
VA's national cemeteries on more than 16,000 acres of land.
Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national
cemetery offices, from the Internet at http://www.cem.va.gov or by
calling VA regional offices toll-free at
1 800-827-1000.
For more information on the Massachusetts event call Paul
McFarland, Cemetery Director, at (508) 563-7113.
 

USMC

Member
Civil War Soldiers buried

John,
I read this but I'm not for sure if I understand the burial bennifits correctly,are they saying if you are a veteran you can be buried free in a national cememtary with out paying for the burial site?

I understand it to say that they will pay for a marker, but I'm not for sure about the rest. later Jim
 

John Harrelson

New Member
Civil War Soldiers buried

Hi Jim,
From what I understand, any honorably discharged veteran can be buried in a "military cemetery" for free with full military honors,.... you know... the bugle blowing taps, an honor guard doing their thing with the rifle salute, etc.... plus the head stone is free.

Or if a veteran is buried in a civilian cemetery, the family provides the plot at their expense but the bugler playing taps, honor guard shooting rifles and the head stone is still furnished free..

When my good friend Command Sergent Major Bill Sanford was buried.. it was in a private cemetery with full military honors.. and I mean ALL the trappings .... uniformed pall bearers, military chaplain, etc...

The military funeral is normally performed by the local National Guard or Reserve unit in the town where the burial takes place..

If the town does not have a reserve unit or NG unit, then either the local VFW or other military veterans organization will perform the honors.

It's very impressive and meaningful for all military personnel present because there is nothing more sad than laying to rest a brother or sister in arms.

For more info Jim, check out the VA web site..

John
 
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