VA National Cemeteries
Annapolis National Cemetery burial schedule and eligibility
Annapolis, Maryland · VA national cemetery
Address, hours, directions and contact details: Annapolis National Cemetery.
You can look up burials at Annapolis National Cemetery 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 Annapolis National Cemetery as closed to new burials, so ask the scheduling office whether an existing family gravesite can be used.
History of Annapolis National Cemetery
Annapolis National Cemetery is located in Anne Arundel County, within the city limits of Annapolis, MD. Annapolis was one of the 14 national cemeteries established by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. The original land was leased in August 1862 from a local resident, Nicholas Brewer, for a period of 99 years. Five years later, Brewer's heirs sold the land outright to the federal government.
During the Civil War, Annapolis was the site of a Union training and recruiting center. Despite the government's best efforts to keep the camps sanitary, a large number of men died due to illnesses such as small pox and typhoid, as well as accidents and violence. As a result, most original interments at the cemetery were men who died at the training camps or nearby hospitals.
Annapolis also had a role in the exchange of prisoners between Union and Confederate sides. As early as the War of 1812, there was a well-established practice of paroling prisoners of war so neither side incurred the expense of holding and maintaining the others' troops for an extended period. While City Point, VA, was the official exchange location, Confederate prisoners were held at Annapolis while arrangements were negotiated. Conversely, Union soldiers held by the Confederacy were often moved to the hospital at Camp Parole, near Annapolis, after their release. At least 24 men buried at Annapolis National Cemetery were former Confederate POWs who died in captivity.
Annapolis National Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
Visiting hours at Annapolis National Cemetery
Visitation Hours: Open daily from sunrise to sunset. Office Hours: This cemetery is supervised by the Baltimore National Cemetery.
Who can be buried at Annapolis National Cemetery?
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 Annapolis National Cemetery?
- 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 Annapolis National Cemetery and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.
VA lists Annapolis National Cemetery as closed. Ask the scheduling office what, if anything, can still be arranged here, and about open national cemeteries nearby.
Where is the Annapolis National Cemetery burial schedule?
VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Annapolis National Cemetery 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 Annapolis National Cemetery directly at 410-644-9696.
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 Maryland law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in Maryland 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 Annapolis National Cemetery
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.
- Hardesty Funeral HomeAnnapolis, MD0.9 mi from the cemetery
- J.M. Taylor Funeral Home, Inc.Annapolis, MD0.9 mi from the cemetery
- William Reese & Sons MortuaryAnnapolis, MD1.2 mi from the cemetery
- Lasting Tributes By FellowsAnnapolis, MD2.2 mi from the cemetery
- John M. Taylor Funeral HomeAnnapolis, MD2.6 mi from the cemetery
- Kalas Funeral HomeOxon Hill, MD3.6 mi from the cemetery
FAQ
Questions about burial at Annapolis National Cemetery
Is burial at Annapolis National Cemetery 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 Annapolis National Cemetery 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 Annapolis National Cemetery?
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 Annapolis National Cemetery?
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 Annapolis National Cemetery?
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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