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Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery burial schedule and eligibility

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas · VA national cemetery

Address, hours, directions and contact details: Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

VeteranFunerals Editorial·6 min read·May 1, 2026·Facts checked

You can look up burials at Fort Leavenworth 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.

History of Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery

Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, located just north of Leavenworth, KS, is located near the center of the historic Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation. The garrison of Fort Leavenworth is one of the oldest continuously-active military post located west of the Mississippi River and is noted for its significant role in the development of the American West.

After Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, trade routes were opened in the western territories of North America. Conflicts arose when the trade routes crossed lands that belonged to various Native American tribes. Traders soon appealed to the U.S. government for protection and aid in keeping the routes open. In response, the government established a number of military posts west of the Mississippi River, including Fort Leavenworth.

In 1827, the War Department ordered Colonel Henry Leavenworth to follow the Missouri River until he reached the mouth of the Little Platte River and establish a permanent military cantonment on the east bank there. After exploring the area, Col. Leavenworth determined that the west (ultimately Kansas) side of the river was the best site and construction of the cantonment began shortly afterwards. Due to its strategic location on both the Oregon and Santa Fe trails, Fort Leavenworth was a key crossroads for westbound settlers. The flat land near the river contained corrals and supply yards and was well suited for traders and wagon trains on their long westbound journeys.

As early as 1834, cavalry regiments from Fort Leavenworth were ordered to help quell Native American uprisings. When the Mexican War broke out, Fort Leavenworth became an outfitting post for troops headed to the Southwest. Later, it outfitted prospectors bound for California to "strike it rich" with gold. Fort Leavenworth served as Army headquarters for the West and was the site of the formal surrender of New Mexico to the United States in 1846.

Notable veterans buried at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery

The National Cemetery Administration lists these people of note at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, with section and site where it has them.

  • 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:
  • Captain Harry Bell (Philippine Insurrection). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, 36th Infantry, for actions near Porac, Luzon, Philippine Islands, October 17, 1899. Bell died in 1938 and is buried in Section Officer A, Site 167.
  • Captain Thomas W. Custer (Civil War). He received the Medal of Honor twice while serving in the U.S. Army, Company B, 6th Michigan Cavalry; first for capturing the flag at Namozine Church, Virginia, on May 3, 1865, and second for actions at Sailor's Creek, Virginia, April 1865. Custer died in 1876 and is buried in Section A, Site 1488.
  • Colonel Roger H. C. Donlon (Vietnam War). Donlon was born in Saugerties, New York, in 1934. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1953–1954 before being admitted to the US Military Academy at West Point. He left the Academy but subsequently gained his commission through Officers Candidate School. Donlon completed Special Forces training and was awarded the green beret before deploying to Vietnam. There, in July 1964, as commander of Special Forces Detachment A-726, he earned the Medal of Honor for gallantry in driving off the attack of a reinforced Viet Cong battalion despite numerous wounds sustained over the course of a five-hour battle. His was the first Medal of Honor awarded for action in Vietnam, and the first awarded to a member of the Special Forces. He is buried in Section T, Site 653.
  • Lieutenant Commander William E. Hall (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Navy for actions in the Coral Sea (Pacific), May 7–8, 1942. Hall died in 1996 and is buried in Section I, Site 286.
  • Corporal John Kile (Indian Wars). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company M, 5th U.S. Cavalry, for actions near the Republican River, Kansas, July 8, 1869. His citation was awarded under the name of Kyle. Kile died in 1870 and is buried in Section H, Site 3341.

Visiting hours at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery

Visitation Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk. Office Hours: The office is located at Leavenworth National Cemetery. Open Monday thru Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day. Visiting this national cemetery requires following rules set by the US Army. Here are the instructions for visitors to the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery located at Fort Leavenworth US Army Garrison. Check In first: Before you come, visit the US Army Visitor Control Center (VCC). They will give you the latest information on rules and requirements. Apply for a Virtual Pass: Those who wish to visit can apply for a virtual pass at Fort Leavenworth base visitor pre-registration system. The Visitor Center accepts walk-ins, Monday, Friday between the hours of 7 am to 4 pm and is located at: 1 Sherman Ave, Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027. Outside of these business hours, please go to the Gate at Grant Ave. The Grant Gate can issue temporary visitor passes when the VCC is closed. Please expect a wait for processing. Verify Access: Before you visit the cemetery, make sure the base is open to visitors. Access can change based on the US Army security rules. It is good to check. Get Help: If you have questions or want to know if the base is open, you can call the US Army visitor office at 1-913-684-3600 for more information. We hope this information helps you to visit. Please see the general information section for the process of scheduling access to the US Army base for a committal service. View the military service Installation Access Guidelines for additional information.

Who can be buried at Fort Leavenworth 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 Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery?

  1. 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).
  2. 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.
  3. You or the funeral director call 800-535-1117 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET) to request Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.

Where is the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery burial schedule?

VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Fort Leavenworth 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 Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery directly at 913-684-4348.

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 Kansas law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in Kansas 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 Fort Leavenworth 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.

  1. Davis Funeral Chapel, Inc
    Leavenworth, KSMilitary honors services
    2.4 mi from the cemetery
  2. 4.0 mi from the cemetery
  3. 5.5 mi from the cemetery
  4. 5.7 mi from the cemetery
  5. 5.7 mi from the cemetery
  6. Rollins Funeral Home
    Platte City, MO
    8.4 mi from the cemetery

Search all funeral homes by ZIP on FuneralUS

FAQ

Questions about burial at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery

  • Is burial at Fort Leavenworth 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 Fort Leavenworth 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 Fort Leavenworth 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 Fort Leavenworth 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 Fort Leavenworth 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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