Burial at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery: A family guide

History of Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

The Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery lies in the northwestern area of the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, approximately 50 miles south of Chicago. Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery is named after the 16th President of the United States and founder of the National Cemeteries. In the midst of the Civil War, on July 17, 1862 President Lincoln's signature enacted the law authorizing the establishment of national cemeteries "... for the soldiers who die in the service of the country." During the Civil War there were 14 national cemeteries opened pursuant of this legislation. President Lincoln's legacy is especially important to the people of Illinois, where he worked and lived. Lincoln is remembered for his successful law practice and elected service as a resident of Illinois. He served as an Illinois State Assemblyman and an Illinois Representative during the 13th Congress, prior to his election as 16th President of the United States. He is buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery near the State Capital in Springfield, IL, where many additional sites of historical interest are located.

Congressman George E. Sangmeister, a veteran of the Korean War, served as a representative and senator in the state of Illinois, 1973–1987, and a U.S. Representative from Illinois, 1988–1995. He was instrumental in the acquisition of 982 acres from the former Joliet Arsenal and its redevelopment as Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

Monument and Memorials Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery has a memorial walk that commemorates service members of 20th century wars on 15 memorials.

An 18-foot granite obelisk crowned by a bronze eagle with outstretched wings commemorates the 2,403 Americans who died in the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. It was donated by the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and dedicated May 12, 2001.

Notable veterans buried at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

The National Cemetery Administration documents the following veterans of note buried at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, listed by section and site as recorded in the cemetery's official register.

• 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 434 Medal of Honor recipients interred at VA national cemeteries including 6 double recipients.
• » Medal of Honor recipients interred or memorialized here:
• First Sergeant George Theodore Hyatt (Civil War). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company D, 127th Illinois Infantry, for actions at Vicksburg, MS, May 22, 1863. Hyatt died in 1900 and is buried in Section 1, Site 1613.
• Other Burials Born in Brooklyn, NY, John William Bach was a World War II veteran and basketball player, coach, and mentor. Born in 1924, he attended St. John's Prep and began his basketball career there, winning two Catholic city championships, before serving in the U.S. Navy, 1943–1947. After his tour, Bach returned to school and the basketball court. He graduated from Fordham University and was named most valuable player in 1947–1948. He went on to coach Fordham's basketball team for eighteen seasons and was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1974. Bach led Penn State's team for ten years before he joined the coaching staffs of the Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls. He was behind the Bulls' defense that helped secure three consecutive National Basketball Association championship titles. Bach died January 18, 2016, and is buried in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (Section 16, Site 326).
• John Edward Carter was born in 1934 and grew up on Chicago's South Side where he and fellow members of a Bronzeville church choir formed the Swallows in 1952. The group became the Flamingoes and quickly became known for their intricate harmonies, with Carter as a tenor. The all-black, all-male vocalists were part of the emerging doo-wop sound and their "Golden Teardrops" was a signature song. The Flamingoes signed with Chicago's Chess Records in 1955. Carter was drafted into the U.S. Army as cook, 1956–1958, stationed in Germany. While Carter was serving overseas the band replaced him, but in 1960 he joined another Chicago group, the Dells. Carter's vocals remain profoundly influential and he is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee for the Flamingoes (2001) and Dells (2004). Carter died August 21, 2009, and is buried in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (Section 8, Site 46).
• Michael Galajdik was born in 1916 and was raised with the help of a sister. He worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1935 until 1940, when he joined the U.S. Navy. Fireman First Class Galajdik was on board the USS Oklahoma during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Galajdik received the Purple Heart posthumously and was buried as an unknown in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, HI. He is one of many USS Oklahoma dead being identified by the U.S. Army using DNA technologies and dental records. Galadjik's remains were reinterred in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery on April 22, 2017 (Section 10, Site 402).
• John H. Geiger was born in 1925 and spent childhood in Iowa where his father, a veteran of World War I, directed Civilian Conservation Corps projects during the Great Depression. Geiger served in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1945, while still in the military, the Army Technician 5 joined The American Legion. By 1960 Geiger led Illinois' Legion department, and in the early 1970s he took command of the national organization. After his term, he remained active in the organization's leadership, championing the G.I. Bill for Vietnam veterans and influencing policy. After World War II Geiger attended school on the G.I. Bill, graduating from the University of Illinois and, in 1966, becoming a structural engineer for United Airlines. Geiger oversaw construction of United's Terminal One at O'Hare Airport as well as terminals in other cities. Geiger died January 10, 2011, and is buried in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (Section 9A, Site 708).
• Illinois native Iceal "Gene" Hambleton was born in 1918 and served in the U.S. Air Force in World War II as a radio operator, 1943–1945. Lieutenant Colonel Hambleton did not see combat in that tour, but he did as a navigator in Korea and Vietnam. He commanded the 571st Strategic Missile Squadron based in Tucson, AZ, and on April 2, 1972 — his sixty-third mission in Vietnam — was shot down. Hambleton was the only crew member able to eject and he survived behind enemy lines for eleven days. His rescue was the longest and most complex of the war, immortalized in print and film as Bat 21, his aircraft call sign. Hambleton received the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and Purple Heart. He died September 19, 2004, and is buried at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (Section C2-34, Row C, Site 8).

Eligibility for burial at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

Planning ahead for a Veteran's or loved-one's final resting place can eliminate unnecessary delays and reduce stress on a family at a difficult time.

The Department of Veterans Affairs covers the grave plot, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government-furnished headstone or marker, and a U.S. burial flag at no cost to eligible families.

Visiting hours

Visitation Hours: Open daily during daylight hours. Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays, excluding Memorial Day. VA will continue its practice of honoring special requests for weekend burials for religious purposes, in cases of service members killed in action and on at least one day of any three-day Federal holiday weekend at all open VA national cemeteries.

How to schedule a burial at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

1. The funeral home or family contacts the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117 (24/7 for active funeral arrangements).
2. Provide the veteran's full name, date of birth, social security number, dates of service, branch, and date of death.
3. Fax or email the DD-214 to the cemetery's interment office for verification.
4. Once eligibility is confirmed (typically 30–60 minutes for complete documentation), the cemetery assigns a date, time, and committal shelter.
5. The funeral home transports the deceased to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery at the assigned time. The cemetery handles opening, closing, and perpetual care from that point.

Where Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery sits in the Illinois cemetery system

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in Illinois. The cemetery is currently accepting new in-ground and columbarium interments. Families should verify status before planning.

For families considering alternatives, the nearest veteran cemeteries appear in our cemetery sidebar. If Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery is fully reserved, those alternatives are typically the next options.