Burial at Mare Island Naval Cemetery: A family guide

History of Mare Island Naval Cemetery

Mare Island Naval Cemetery is the oldest naval cemetery west of the Mississippi River. It was constructed by the Department of the Navy shortly after it began operating the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in 1854. Burials began at this hillside cemetery in 1856 and continued until 1921. Among the approximately 900 interred there are the daughter of Francis Scott Key, three Medal of Honor Recipients, and six Russian sailors who were laid to rest during the Civil War era.

The cemetery is located within the former shipyard, which officially closed on March 31, 1996, under the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC). The Navy transferred most of the installation's 5,000-acre peninsula to the City of Vallejo in 2002, including the cemetery.

The cemetery is on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Mare Island Naval Ammunition Depot Historic District.

In November 2023, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, took responsibility for administration and maintenance of Mare Island Naval Cemetery following the facility's transfer from the City of Vallejo, California.

Notable veterans buried at Mare Island Naval Cemetery

The National Cemetery Administration documents the following veterans of note buried at Mare Island Naval 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:
• James Cooney, USMC, who received the Medal of Honor for bravery in the presence of the enemy during the Chinese Boxer Rebellion in Tientsin, China on July 13, 1900.
• LDS John Enright, (1864–1889) was a second-generation American born in Lynn, Massachusetts. In January of 1886 he was serving on board the USS Ranger off Ensenada, Mexico. The ship was conducting a hydrographic survey when it was suddenly caught in a violent storm. During the storm, two shipmates fell into the shark-infested waters. Enright jumped and rescued both men from drowning, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Sadly, Enright just three years later trying to save another life. At the time, Enright was part of the crew of the steamer Albatross. While on leave, he and a few other men in a supply boat were headed to shore at Vallejo, California, when the small boat became tangled with the anchor chain of another vessel and overturned. One of those on board was a boy who only had one leg. Enright attempted to save the boy's life, but drowned in the process. His remains were recovered nearly a month later. (Section C, Row 12, Site 72.)
• William Halford, U.S. Navy, who rescued the side-wheel steamer, USS Saginaw. On October 29, 1870, Saginaw became shipwrecked there and with no hope of rescue, five crewmembers volunteered to convert the captain's gig into a sailboat and sail it to obtain rescue for the 87 ship's crew that remained. Coxswain Halford was one of the volunteers. The men endured three gale-force Pacific storms with winds exceeding 40 knots, waves of more than 18 feet, and 1,500 miles at sea in a small boat, but their rations spoiled leaving them weak, sick, and near starvation. After 31-days the small boat reached Kauai and the boat overturned in the large surf as they attempted to land. Unfortunately, Halford was the only survivor and although he suffered a crushed knee, he made it ashore and was able to engage a small schooner to take him to Honolulu where he reported the wreck of the Saginaw. Hawaiian King Kamehameha V dispatched his steamer to rescue the marooned sailors and it arrived at Kure on January 3, 1871. The wreck of the Saginaw and the saga of its crew's rescue was widely reported at the time, Halford became a national hero, he was promoted to the rank of Acting Gunner, and he was awarded the Medal of Honor on February 8, 1872.
• Alexander Parker, U.S. Navy, who attempted to save a shipmate from drowning at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on July 25, 1876. He was serving in the U.S. Navy as a boatswain's mate on the USS Portsmouth. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor two weeks later, on August 9, 1876.
• Other Burials Anna Arnold Key Turner — daughter of Francis Scott Key, author of "The Star-Spangled Banner" — is buried there in a grave whose monument says, "The children arise and call her blessed." She had eleven children with her husband, David Turner and served as one of Vallejo's first public school teachers. She passed away in 1884. David preceded her in death in 1860 and is buried beside her. He was a Congressional representative from North Carolina, where his father was governor, when he met Anna. He accompanied Farragut to Mare Island in 1854 and worked as the supervising civil engineer. Some of the buildings he built still stand.

Eligibility for burial at Mare Island Naval 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 sunrise to sunset. The City of Vallejo is responsible for opening the gates which adhere to NCA policy (signage on entrance gate). Office Hours: Sacramento Valley National Cemetery manages this cemetery. Their office is off-site and open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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

Where Mare Island Naval Cemetery sits in the California cemetery system

Mare Island Naval Cemetery is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in California. The cemetery is currently closed to new in-ground burials but may accept cremated remains in some cases. Families should verify status before planning.

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