Burial at Bay Pines National Cemetery: A family guide

History of Bay Pines National Cemetery

Bay Pines National Cemetery is located on the grounds of the Veterans Administration Center (VAC) in Pinellas County, about 9 miles west-northwest of St. Petersburg, Fla.

On March 15, 1933, the cemetery was dedicated and officially opened as a burial ground for those who died in the Bay Pines hospital and domiciliary. The 21-acre site was laid out in 42 symmetrical sections. The first interment was made on April 25, 1933, and by January 1964, all available gravesites had been used. In 1984, in order to gain more grave space, the hedges that divided the center of the cemetery were removed and the space between the sections was utilized.

The cemetery was transferred from the Veterans Administration to the National Cemetery System on May 28, 1984, and reopened for interments on July 2, 1984.

The cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 27, 2012, as part of the Bay Pines Veterans Administration Home and Hospital Historic District.

Notable veterans buried at Bay Pines National Cemetery

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

• Under Development.

Eligibility for burial at Bay Pines 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 dawn to dusk. Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (excluding federal holidays). On Memorial Day, the office is open until 7:00 p.m.

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

Where Bay Pines National Cemetery sits in the Florida cemetery system

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