Burial at Long Island National Cemetery: A family guide

History of Long Island National Cemetery

Long Island National Cemetery is located in the community of Farmingdale in central Long Island, NY. It was one of seven national cemeteries created between 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 Baltimore, Maryland; Fort Bliss and Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Snelling, Minnesota; Fort Rosecrans and Golden Gate, California.

Long Island National Cemetery occupies land that once belonged to the adjacent Pinelawn Cemetery, a large private lawn-park style cemetery. It was created to supplant the Civil War-era Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, two sections of which are embedded in the private Cypress Hills Cemetery. Cypress Hills National Cemetery grew from 3 acres to 18 acres. Twentieth-century wars and the expansion of veterans' burial benefits in 1920 created a dramatic increase in the civilian population eligible for burial were among the factors that led the government to estimate the cemetery would be full by 1938. Congress authorized the War Department to purchase land for a new cemetery in the vicinity of New York City in 1936. Two locations were considered — the Camp Upton National Military Reservation, 60 miles east of Manhattan on Long Island, and Pinelawn. The federal government purchased 175 acres of Pinelawn in January 1937 for $200,000.

The first burials in Long Island National Cemetery took place in March 1937 and the volume of interments quickly increased to an average of fifty-three per month. Beautification of the grounds and construction of permanent roads and buildings took place at the same time. Major construction projects completed in the first year included a superintendent's lodge, administration office, receiving vault and chapel, garage and comfort station all near the main entrance gate and iron fence, and a U.S. flagpole and circle, and temporary rostrum. The Office of the Quartermaster General and Quartermaster Corps designed the Colonial Revival red brick buildings with slate-shingle roofs. The cemetery was designed in formal geometric pattern with roads organizing burial sections; with a flagpole in a prominent location. A "mall" area near the flagpole serves as a Distinguished Service Section, which primarily consists of Medal of Honor recipients. The standard plaques installed here are the General Orders No. 80, National Cemetery Act, Memorial Day Order, and Gettysburg Address.

Development of burial space steadily expanded in the first years of the cemetery along with the increase in interment rates. The New Deal Works Progress Administration (WPA) supplied some of the labor for early road and building construction. A little more than three years after the first burials at Long Island National Cemetery it hosted a formal dedication on May 26, 1940, a ceremony that included a parade of 3,000 veterans and auxiliaries.

Notable veterans buried at Long Island National Cemetery

The National Cemetery Administration documents the following veterans of note buried at Long Island 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:
• Chief Water Tender Heinrich Behnke. He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Navy for actions on board the USS Iowa after the blowing out of a manhole cover on the vessel, January 25, 1905. Behnke died in 1952 and is buried in Section DSS, Site 20A.
• Corporal Anthony Casamento (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, for actions at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, November 1, 1942. Casamento died in 1987 and is buried in Section DSS, Site 79A.
• Chief Gunner's Mate John Everetts. He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Navy on board the USS Cushing, for the attempted rescue of a shipmate from drowning, February 11, 1898. Everetts died in 1956 and is buried in Section DSS, Site 36A.
• Edmund Joseph Flaherty (World War I & II, Korea). He was better known by his stage name Pat Flaherty and appeared or served as a technical advisor in some 200 films between 1930-50. Before his acting career took off Flaherty served in the Army at the time of the Mexican Border expedition and as a pilot during World War I. After the war he played professional baseball, pitching for the New York Giants, and professional football, punting for the Chicago Bears. During World War II he served as a captain in the Marines Corps, and he served again during the Korean War, rising to the rank of major. His filmography includes credited roles in such classic films as Mutiny on the Bounty, Sergeant York, The Babe Ruth Story, and The Jackie Robinson Story. His military and sports background, along with a large, physical presence, often led to him being cast as strong authoritarian figures such as military men, athletes, coaches, police officers and street thugs.
• Gunner's Mate Third Class Robert Galbraith (Philippine Insurrection). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Navy for actions at El Pardo, Cebu, Philippine Islands, September 12–13, 1899. Galbraith died in 1949 and is buried in Section DSS, Site 17.
• Boatswain's Mate William Henry Gowan. He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Navy for actions at Coquimbo, Chile, January 20, 1909. Gowan died in 1957 and is buried in Section DSS, Site 7A.

Eligibility for burial at Long Island 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 through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Open Memorial Day 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

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

Where Long Island National Cemetery sits in the New York cemetery system

Long Island National Cemetery is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in New York. 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 Long Island National Cemetery is fully reserved, those alternatives are typically the next options.