Southern California National Cemeteries for Veterans
Two are located in San Diego County, with Riverside National Cemetery serving families throughout Southern California.
Eligibility for National Cemetery Burial
Veterans and eligible family members may qualify for burial in a national cemetery. While requirements vary slightly by cemetery, the general eligibility includes:
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- Veterans with an honorable discharge
- Eligible spouses and dependents of qualifying veterans
- No charge for the burial plot, opening and closing of the grave, government headstone or marker, or perpetual care
Families are responsible for funeral home services, transportation, and any optional services selected
We encourage families to apply even if eligibility is unclear — exceptions do occur, and our funeral directors can help review individual circumstances.
National Cemetery Options
📍 Miramar National Cemetery
San Diego’s primary national cemetery for eligible veterans and families.
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🌊 Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
Historic coastal cemetery overlooking San Diego Bay and Point Loma.
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🏞️ Riverside National Cemetery
A major Southern California national cemetery serving many veteran families.
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🇺🇸 Arlington National Cemetery
The nation’s most recognized military cemetery and place of honor.
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Benefits of Burial at a National Cemetery
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- No cost for the burial plot, opening and closing of the grave, or perpetual care
- Government-provided headstone or marker
- Recognition of military service in a dignified, national setting
- Long-term preservation and maintenance by the Department of Veterans Affairs
Miramar National Cemetery
The Miramar Cemetery has available space for both casket burials and cremated remains. As well, there are many columbarium areas for the interment of cremains. We have a separate page for more detailed information on Miramar National Cemetery since it is the one in San Diego in current use.
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
Officially registered as a California Historical Landmark (#55) more than 82 years ago, Fort Rosecrans is on beautiful Point Loma in San Diego. Before 1934, it was called Bennington National Cemetery. It used to be a coastal gun station for the army. William Rosecrans was a Union general in the Civil War, and Fort Rosecrans was named after him, even though he was not buried there. Arlington National Cemetery is where General Rosecran’s body is buried. On its 77 acres, about 112,000 soldiers and their family members are buried at Fort Rosecrans.
We encourage you to visit the cemetery. It is a very peaceful and beautiful place that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. There is much history here and much to discover.
First interment at Rosecrans Possible – Although Rare
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery has actually been “closed” for new burials (or interments) since the 1960’s, but with the addition of the Veterans Memorial Wall to house cremated ashes in columbariums, thousands of World War II veterans have been able to be forever memorialized at the honorable site. Some veterans or their families can be placed at Fort Rosecrans through disinterments and exceptional circumstances. Funerals Your Way was fortunate to assist in a few burials there and two of these were victims of the Pearl Harbor attack.
Fort Rosecrans – Special Features
The graveyard is named after Brigadier General William Starke Rosecrans, a well-known Union general in the American Civil War. It is essential to history because it has been used since 1882 where and is where thousands of war veterans and their families are buried.
The Avenue of Flags is one of the most exciting parts of Fort Rosecrans Cemetery. On patriotic holidays like Memorial Day and Veterans Day, volunteers line the cemetery’s main road of the cemetery with more than 1,000 American flags. This is a beautiful tribute to the soldiers and women who died while serving their country.
Fort Rosecrans – Special Monuments
There are many monuments in the cemetery. The USS Bennington Monument, a 60-foot granite obelisk to the crew of the USS Bennington (PG-4), a gunboat whose boiler exploded on 21 July 1905 in San Diego Bay, killing 66 people.
Another monument is to the Mormon Battalion. It’s members made the longest military march in U.S. History – over 2000 miles from Iowa to San Diego in 1846 – 1847 during the war with Mexico.
Riverside National Cemetery
The transfer of 740 acres from March Air Force Base allowed the formation of the Riverside National Cemetery. It was dedicated and opened for burials on November 11, 1978. In 2003, an additional 181 acres were added to the cemetery by the Air Force. The cemetery is the third largest managed by the National Cemetery Association and is the most active in the system.
The cemetery is the home of the Medal of Honor Memorial, featuring the names of all medal recipients, and is one of the four sites recognized as a National Medal of Honor Memorial Site. Also, noted is the Fallen Soldier/Veterans’ Memorial, dedicated to all service members, located near the entrance to the park, dedicated in 2000.
Many notable Medal of Honor recipients, famous people, and seven Tuskegee Airmen are among those buried at the Riverside Cemetery.
Riverside – Special Features
Avenue of Flags: Riverside National Cemetery features an impressive Avenue of Flags. On patriotic holidays, volunteers place flags along the main entrance road, creating a stunning display of hundreds of American flags that pay tribute to the military veterans interred at the cemetery.
Medal of Honor Memorial: The cemetery has a special place for the Medal of Honor Memorial, which celebrates people who have won the United States’ highest military honor.
The striking bronze figure “The Guardians” is one of the most interesting things at Riverside National Cemetery. This piece of art is bigger than life, and shows four soldiers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps standing guard over the graves of other soldiers who have passed.
Memorial Walkway: The cemetery includes a Memorial Walkway that showcases a collection of memorial plaques and tributes dedicated to specific military units, organizations, or individuals. These tributes offer a glimpse into the diverse and heroic stories of those who served their country.
Historic Civil War Section: Riverside National Cemetery has a special area for Civil War soldiers called “Soldier’s Circle.” It has a center monument and rows of headstones that show where Union soldiers who fought in the American Civil War are buried. This connects people to the past of the country and ensures future generations remember.
Arlington National Cemetery
We do have families ask about interment in Arlington Nation Cemetery from time to time, so below is some information regarding this cemetery. Arlington National Cemetery is more restrictive than other national cemeteries in the United States. Arlington is the nation’s most prestigious military cemetery, and as you may imagine, its eligibility requirements reflect that status. In addition to the following restrictions, the entry qualification process can be many months. Here’s a comparison of the key differences:
Arlington National Cemetery Eligibility Criteria
- Active Duty Service Members: Those who die on active duty are eligible for burial.
- Retired Military Members: Honorably discharged retirees who served at least 20 years are eligible.
- Recipients of Military Awards: Those who received high military decorations such as the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, etc.
- Former Prisoners of War: Honorably discharged former POWs.
- Veterans with Combat-Related Deaths: Those who die as a result of combat operations.
- High-Ranking Government Officials: These include U.S. presidents or members of Congress who served in the military.
- Spouses and Dependents: Spouses, minor children, and confident adult dependents of eligible service members.
- Cremated Remains: Inurnment in the columbarium is available for honorably discharged veterans, with less restrictive criteria than full burial.
Arlington’s more restrictive policies are designed to maintain space for those who have made significant contributions to the nation.
Arlington National Cemetery has significantly stricter eligibility requirements than other national cemeteries. Approval can take months and is not guaranteed.