VA National Cemeteries
Fort Stevens National Cemetery burial schedule and eligibility
Hammond, Oregon · VA national cemetery
Address, hours, directions and contact details: Fort Stevens National Cemetery.
You can look up burials at Fort Stevens 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 Stevens National Cemetery
The headstones and the life histories of those at rest relates the history of the lower Columbia River and coastal area. This hallowed ground is the final resting place for local men and women who served in the military, as well as military spouses and children. There are also those who sacrificed their lives to save others and civilian builders who gave their lives to construct Columbia River defenses. The victims of the Graveyard of the Pacific (the treacherous mouth of the Columbia River) are also buried here.
In 1866 the Fort Stevens Quartermaster received authority to construct a cemetery. A serene site in a grove of trees was selected. Located on the road to Clatsop Plains, it was established as 165 feet by 104 feet, surrounded by a soldier-built white picket fence. In the fall of 1905, due to main cantonment expansion, the cemetery was moved to a new location on the southern edge of the post.
The War Department in 1912 ordered consolidation of cemeteries with Fort Stevens as the central location for this region. In 1913, fifty burials from Fort Canby were reinterred at Fort Stevens. The Fort Canby burials included Cape Disappointment Lighthouse personnel and family members.
The 1940s had few burials. In December 1949 the cemetery was transferred to the City of Hammond. The Army reacquired it in 1956 and maintained the active cemetery until its transfer to the National Cemetery Administration in 2020. There was a gap of over 20 years without a burial. In 1970, the cemetery became active again with two Vietnam War Soldiers laid to rest that year.
Visiting hours at Fort Stevens National Cemetery
Visitation Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk. Office Hours at Willamette National Cemetery: Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day (Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) and Veterans Day (Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) Please Note: Cemetery offices are off-site. Willamette National Cemetery oversees this cemetery. VA will continue its practice of honoring special requests for weekend burials for religious purposes, in cases of service members killed in action and on at least one day of any three-day Federal holiday weekend at all open VA national cemeteries.
Who can be buried at Fort Stevens 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 Stevens 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 Fort Stevens National Cemetery and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.
Where is the Fort Stevens National Cemetery burial schedule?
VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Fort Stevens 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 Stevens National Cemetery directly at 503-273-5250.
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 Oregon law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in Oregon 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 Stevens 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.
- Hughes-Ransom Cremation & MortuariesSeaside, OR6.3 mi from the cemetery
- Ocean View Funeral & Cremation ServicesAstoria, OR6.3 mi from the cemetery
- Caldwell's Luce-Layton Mortuary, Inc.Astoria, OR6.3 mi from the cemetery
- Penttilas Chapel By the SeaLong Beach, WA11.1 mi from the cemetery
- 14.0 mi from the cemetery
- Dowling Funeral HomeCathlamet, WA27.5 mi from the cemetery
FAQ
Questions about burial at Fort Stevens National Cemetery
Is burial at Fort Stevens 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 Stevens 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 Stevens 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 Stevens 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 Stevens 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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