VA National Cemeteries
Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot burial schedule and eligibility
Albany, New York · VA national cemetery
Address, hours, directions and contact details: Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot.
You can look up burials at Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot on VA's daily burial schedule, which lists the committal services families have agreed to publish. Veterans who were not dishonorably discharged can be buried here, and so can their spouses and some dependent children. To schedule a burial, you or the funeral director call VA's National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117. VA lists Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot as closed to new burials, so ask the scheduling office whether an existing family gravesite can be used.
History of Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot
Albany Rural Cemetery is located in the city of Albany, New York, on an elevated plateau overlooking the Hudson River. The cemetery was established as a result of a public reaction to overcrowded and deteriorating church burial grounds in the state's capital. The citizens sought a "rural cemetery" outside the city proper, which was incorporated on April 2, 1841. Albany Rural, true to its name, opened Oct. 7, 1844, and it remains one of the oldest examples of this style of picturesque cemeteries in the country. The cemetery, now 467 acres, is the last resting place for the 21st U.S. president, Chester Arthur, along with legions of national and state politicians.
The Albany Rural Soldiers' Lot is located in Lot 7, Section 75. Although no deed was located, the 0.16-acre lot was donated to the federal government by the Albany Cemetery Association on June 17, 1862, for the "burial of soldiers who have fallen or may fall in the Civil War." The majority of burials consist of soldiers who died of injury or illness in hospitals around Albany during the Civil War. The last of the 149 interments was made in 1897.
Albany Rural Cemetery, including the National Cemetery Administration's soldiers' lot, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in October 1979.
Monuments and Memorials About 1873, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) erected a monument to remember local men who lost their lives during the Civil War. The 15-foot-tall GAR Monument is composed of a bronze figure of a Civil War soldier atop a granite shaft, adorned on each side with bronze inscription plaques listing the names of those who died during the Civil War. On the front of the shaft there is an oval bas-relief portrait of Abraham Lincoln, signed "Pickett 1873."
Visiting hours at Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot
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.
Who can be buried at Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot?
VA national cemeteries accept a veteran who didn't receive a dishonorable discharge, a service member who died on active duty or in training, the veteran's spouse or surviving spouse (even if they remarried), and minor or, in some cases, unmarried adult dependent children. National Guard and Reserve members qualify under narrower rules. You can ask VA for a pre-need eligibility decision in advance; it does not reserve a gravesite.
What does burial here include at no cost?
- A gravesite in any VA national cemetery with available space
- Opening and closing of the grave
- A government-provided burial liner
- A government-provided headstone or marker
- Perpetual care of the gravesite
Veterans also receive a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate (presented to the next of kin at the burial) and military funeral honors, which include the playing of Taps and two uniformed service members who present the flag. The committal service is held at a committal shelter, not at the grave, and lasts about 20 minutes. National cemeteries have no viewing facilities, so the funeral itself is held elsewhere.
How do you schedule a burial at Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot?
- Gather the veteran's DD214 or other discharge papers, and the deceased's details (Social Security number, dates of birth and death, relationship to the veteran).
- Fax the discharge papers to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 866-900-6417, or email them to [email protected] with the deceased's name in the subject line.
- You or the funeral director call 800-535-1117 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET) to request Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.
VA lists Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot as closed. Ask the scheduling office what, if anything, can still be arranged here, and about open national cemeteries nearby.
Where is the Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot burial schedule?
VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot to see the committal services planned there. It only lists burials whose families agreed to publish them. To change or cancel a burial that's already scheduled, contact Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot directly at 518-581-9128.
Headstone, flag and burial allowance
- Government headstone or marker: tell the scheduling office which headstone, marker, niche cover or medallion you want when you schedule the burial.
- Burial flag: VA Form 27-2008.
- Burial allowance: For a non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026, VA pays up to $1,032 toward burial and funeral costs and $1,032 for a plot; for a service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001, the burial allowance is up to $2,000. Claim it with VA Form 21P-530EZ. All benefits
After the funeral: survivor benefits and the estate
A surviving spouse, child or parent may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), a tax-free monthly VA benefit, for example when the death was service connected (VA Form 21P-534EZ). The veteran's estate is settled under New York law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in New York and lists each county's probate court. For the rest of the paperwork, from Social Security to bank accounts, DeathUS has a step-by-step checklist of what to do when someone dies.
Funeral homes near Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot
A funeral director usually arranges the burial with the cemetery. These are the closest funeral homes by straight-line distance. Each one links to its full listing on FuneralUS, our funeral home directory.
- Cummings Funeral HomeWatervliet, NY1.1 mi from the cemetery
- Konicek & Collett Funeral Home LlcWatervliet, NY1.9 mi from the cemetery
- Bocketti Funeral HomeTroy, NY1.9 mi from the cemetery
- Doyle B Shaffer IncCollege Point, NY2.0 mi from the cemetery
- Parker Bros. Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.Watervliet, NY2.1 mi from the cemetery
- S.L. McLaughlin Funeral HomeAlbany, NY2.4 mi from the cemetery
FAQ
Questions about burial at Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot
Is burial at Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot free?
Yes, for eligible veterans, spouses and dependent children. VA provides the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a burial liner, a headstone or marker, and perpetual care at no cost. The funeral home's services, such as transport and any service before the burial, are arranged and paid for separately.
Can I reserve a gravesite at Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot in advance?
No. You can ask VA for a pre-need eligibility decision before a death, but VA says the decision letter doesn't name a cemetery or gravesite, because neither can be reserved in advance.
How do I schedule a burial at Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot?
Fax the veteran's discharge papers to 866-900-6417 or email them to [email protected]. Then you or the funeral director call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET). National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.
Where can I see the burial schedule for Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot?
On VA's daily burial schedule at https://www.cem.va.gov/cem/dailyburialschedule/. It covers every national cemetery, but it only lists burials whose families agreed to publish them.
Are military funeral honors provided at Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot?
Yes, if you ask for them. Your funeral director, a Veterans Service Organization or the cemetery staff can arrange them. At minimum, two uniformed service members fold and present the burial flag at the committal shelter, and Taps is played.
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