Burial at Baltimore National Cemetery: A family guide

History of Baltimore National Cemetery

Baltimore National Cemetery is located in the Beechfield neighborhood of Baltimore City's southwestern corner. The cemetery straddles the border between the city and Baltimore County. It was one of seven national cemeteries created between the world wars, 1934–1939. It was the Army's first major expansion since the Civil War directed at serving a growing veteran population and the rapidly depleting burial space at existing national cemeteries. Unlike previous new cemeteries, locations were based on veterans' places of residence, especially in or near large cities. The other interwar national cemeteries are Long Island, New York; Fort Bliss and Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Snelling, Minnesota; and Fort Rosecrans and Golden Gate, California.

The site occupied by Baltimore National Cemetery was an historic estate called Cloud Capped (or Cap), which occupied an elevated setting adjacent to Frederick Road as early as 1750. The Frederick Road provided Baltimore with a connection to the National Road, the nation's first major overland route and commercial artery. The property was part of the holdings of the Baltimore Company (Iron Ore) and Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Cloud Capped residents apparently observed the attacking British fleet sailing toward Fort McHenry in 1814, and sent a messenger to warn the city of the impending Battle of Baltimore, which inspired Francis Scott Key's "Star-Spangled Banner." In 1890, when socially prominent Blanchard and Susan Randall acquired the estate as a summer home, its 90 acres were studded with mature specimen trees. Cloud Capped was enlarged through multiple additions over the years. A cottage and stable, adapted for use by the cemetery, were also constructed. A railroad stop near the property made it easily accessible to downtown Baltimore in the late 1800s.

By the onset of the Great Depression, Baltimore was the eighth-largest city in the country, with an estimated 30,000 World War I (1917–1918) veterans. The War Department estimated that nearby Loudon Park National Cemetery, the only national cemetery serving area veterans, would close to interments before 1940. Originally, the War Department intended to expand Loudon Park National Cemetery, established in 1862 to avoid the complication of establishing a new cemetery. But by May 1936, the U.S. Congress passed an appropriations bill funding a new one in the Baltimore area. The army considered six sites but determined that Cloud Capped was the most appropriate for several reasons. The property was adjacent to Frederick Road, the city streetcar line had easy access, the acreage ensured it would be active for "a number of years," trees sufficiently surrounded the parcel, the grade was level enough for burials, some Cloud Capped buildings were suitable to be adapted for cemeterial use, and the price was right. At the time, a local reporter envisioned it to be Maryland's "Little Arlington."

The initial and largest construction phase at Baltimore National Cemetery took place between February 10, 1937, and August 15, 1938. This consisted of the demolition of most of the mansion and erection of the "new" superintendent's lodge using materials salvaged from Cloud Capped's oldest wing, renovation of the cottage and stables, and initial landscaping activities such as grading, topsoiling, and removal or transplant of trees. Labor from the New Deal Work Projects Administration (WPA) was used extensively.

Notable veterans buried at Baltimore National Cemetery

The National Cemetery Administration documents the following veterans of note buried at Baltimore 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:
• Water Tender Laddie Stupka. He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Navy for actions on board the U.S.S. Leydon when the vessel wrecked, January 21, 1903. Stupka's citation was awarded under the name of Loddie. Stupka died in 1946 and is buried in the Distinguished Service Section, Site 1.
• Other Burials Horace Bivins (1866–1960) was born and raised in Accomack County, VA, on his parents' farm. He attended the Hampton Institute and enlisted in the army in 1887, where he served in the 10th Cavalry. Bivins' career as a Buffalo Soldier took him to the Southwest United States, Cuba, Philippines, and ultimately back to the East Coast. He retired briefly in 1913. As a commissioned officer in 1918, he rejoined the army to fight in World War I. Captain Bivins is remembered as one of the authors of the book Under Fire with the 10th Cavalry (1899) and as the army's first Double Distinguished shooter. The army's top marksman won 32 awards, including gold medals in carbine and revolver competitions. He received the silver star retroactively for "conspicuous gallantry" during the Spanish-American War. "Buffalo Bill" Cody reportedly tried to recruit Bivins for his Wild West show because of his shooting skills. Bivins married in 1904 and lived in Billings, MT, until 1949. Thereafter he moved to Philadelphia where his World War II-veteran son lived. Captain Bivins died December 4 and is buried in Baltimore National Cemetery (Section C, Site 753-W).
• Hattie Carroll was born in 1911, and while her death made the national news, details of her life as an African-American woman are less recognized. She married James F. Carroll (1912–1987) in the 1930s. In February 1963 Hattie Carroll died after William Zantzinger, a white farmer, hit her with a toy cane. The mother of 11 and church leader worked part time as barmaid, that night at the Emerson Hotel in Baltimore, MD. Zantzinger, a guest at the hotel ball, swore at her and struck her because he did not think she served him quickly enough. He was sentenced to six months in jail on August 28, the same day Civil Rights advocates marched on Washington, D.C., and Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. Carroll was immortalized by musician Bob Dylan in the folk ballad, "Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll." Dylan's haunting song captured the racism that King sought to end. Carroll is buried with her World War II navy veteran husband in Baltimore National Cemetery (Section K, Site 40).
• Robert Cole was born in Vermont in 1920. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and completed flight training in December 1944 during World War II. Flight Officer Cole served with the 99th Fighter Squadron until March 1946, and as the war ended he flew with other Tuskegee Airman in airshows throughout the United States. By the late 1940s Cole returned to Vermont where he worked as a shoemaker and flew planes from the Barre-Montpelier airport. The Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold Medal for their service in 2006. Cole's honor was posthumous. He died August 19, 1968, and is buried in Baltimore National Cemetery (Section H, Site 238).
• Emily Noisette (1921–2011) was born in Maryland and lived in Baltimore with her grandmother as a young woman. She was one of 800 or so "women in technicolor" who overcame racial prejudice serving in the Women's Army Corps during World War II. Noisette enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943 and joined the new "six triple eight" battalion, the only all-female, all-black unit to serve overseas. Abiding to the motto "no mail, low morale," the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion redirected a six-month backlog of mail to troops. The battalion arrived in Scotland in early 1945 and was stationed in Birmingham, England, then Rouen, France. Private First Class Noisette was discharged in December 1945. She married North Carolinian John Milton Cox, Jr., (1924–1957) who lived in Baltimore by 1940; he also served in the army during the war. Noisette Cox is buried alongside her husband in Baltimore National Cemetery (Section N, Site 238).
• Deloris L. Ruddock was born September 26, 1923, in Washington, D.C. In 1943 she enlisted in the Women's Army Corps for World War II service. She was eventually assigned to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (Six Triple Eight), the only female African-American battalion to serve overseas in WWII. They fulfilled their mission to clear a large backlog of mail in the European Theater and raise troop morale. The unit received the Meritorious Unit Commendation in 2019. Ruddock was honorably discharged in 1946 and used her G.I. Bill benefits to attend fashion school in New York City. Unable to find work in that field, she had successful careers in banking and retail sales before retiring in the District of Columbia to be near family and volunteer in her community. Ruddock represented her unit in many ceremonies recognizing them throughout the 2010s. She died March 27, 2021, and was buried in Section E, Site 5333A.

Eligibility for burial at Baltimore 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 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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

Where Baltimore National Cemetery sits in the Maryland cemetery system

Baltimore National Cemetery is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in Maryland. The cemetery is currently operating with limited burial availability. Families should verify status before planning.

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