Burial at Alabama National Cemetery: A family guide

History of Alabama National Cemetery

With the passage of the National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003, Congress directed the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish six new national cemeteries in areas with at least 170,000 residents not currently served by burial locations for veterans, including central Alabama.

At the time NCA purchased the site of Alabama National Cemetery, the property was used for agricultural purposes. Alabama National Cemetery was formally dedicated in 2008, and opened for burials the following year. Alabama National Cemetery is the third national cemetery built in the state and the 129th in the national cemetery system. The first burials commenced on June 25, 2009.

In 2011, Alabama National Cemetery completed construction of the cemetery support facilities including the Public Information Center, main entrance with Avenue of Flags, memorial wall with flag circle, offices and maintenance facilities, columbarium, committal shelters, and memorial walkway. The design and layout received an honor award from the Alabama Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Prior to development and use as a national cemetery, the land had a long and culturally-varied history. During the Colonial period the Muskogee tribe, also known as the Creeks, lived in central Alabama. By the early 19th century, European-American encroachment led to a division within the Creek society between a partially-assimilated faction, and those that sought to return to their traditional culture and religion. Tensions culminated in the Creek War (1813–1814) which began as a tribal civil war but became intertwined with the War of 1812 when the U.S. government allied with the assimilated Creeks. The Creek War ended with the Treaty of Fort Jackson, which ceded much of the tribal territory in Georgia and Alabama to the United States.

Notable veterans buried at Alabama National Cemetery

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

• SPC Andrew Lee Hand (Iraq, Afghanistan). Hand (1984–2010) was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Fires Brigade. He was one of four soldiers in his unit killed when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. (Section 8, Site 662)
• MATT1 Johnnie Cornelius Laurie (World War II). Laurie (1916–1941) was from Bessemer, AL, where he was very active in church and school sports including basketball and high jumping. In 1940, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Laurie served on the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) and was killed while serving aboard the ship during the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. (Section 2, Site 546)
• LCPL Thomas Edward Rivers, Jr. (Afghanistan). Rivers (1988–2010) served with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force. He was killed by a roadside bomb while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Thomas had wanted to be a Marine since he was ten years old. (Section 8, Site 663)
• LCPL Brian Keith Schramm (Iraq). Schramm (1982–2004) of Rochester, NY, was a 2001 graduate of Greece Olympia High School and was known by friends and family for his sense of humor and decency. He was assigned to the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, and was killed by shrapnel in Babil Province, Iraq. (Section 6, Site 945)
• S2 Virgil Oliver Trucks (World War II). Trucks (1917–2013) served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was also a Major League Baseball player. He was a renowned pitcher, nicknamed "Fire Trucks," and played for seventeen seasons, throwing two no-hitters in 1952. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1974 and co-authored his autobiography Throwing Heat: The Life and Times of Virgil "Fire" Trucks. (Section 1, Site 1540)

Eligibility for burial at Alabama 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 from sunrise to sunset. Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays.

How to schedule a burial at Alabama 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 Alabama National Cemetery at the assigned time. The cemetery handles opening, closing, and perpetual care from that point.

Where Alabama National Cemetery sits in the Alabama cemetery system

Alabama National Cemetery is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in Alabama. 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 Alabama National Cemetery is fully reserved, those alternatives are typically the next options.