VA National Cemeteries
New Albany National Cemetery burial schedule and eligibility
New Albany, Indiana · VA national cemetery
Address, hours, directions and contact details: New Albany National Cemetery.
You can look up burials at New Albany 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 New Albany National Cemetery
New Albany National Cemetery is located New Albany, IN, just across the Ohio River from Louisville, KY. Founded just below the Falls of the Ohio, New Albany was first settled in the early 1800s by farmers who recognized the town's potential as a transportation and ship-building hub. The first settlers in the region named the territory after the capital of their home state, New York. Prior to construction of the locks on the Louisville side of the river, New Albany was one of the largest cities in the Midwest due to its river location. Riverboat building and glass manufacturing were important industries. In 1858, Ashbel P. Willard, governor of Indiana and a New Albany resident, dedicated the Floyd County Fairground, and the following year the Indiana State Fair came to town. During the Civil War, the fairground was converted into Camp Noble where local regiments were mustered. New Albany became a strategic supply and training center for the Union troops fighting in the South, and a hospital center for the wounded being sent north, as well as part of the Underground Railroad for slaves escaping from the South.
New Albany National Cemetery was established in 1862 to accommodate the burial of soldiers posted at the training center. It was also intended for the reinterment of Union soldiers who died in local hospitals and were buried in nearby gravesites and soldier's plots. Most of the reinterments came from West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana. The original 5.5 acres were purchased from Dr. Charles Bowman in early 1862. By November 1870, more than 2,000 known dead and 698 unknowns were buried at New Albany. According to a 1870s inspection report, the African-American men of the U.S. Colored Troops were buried in segregated sections from their fellow soldiers.
Today a suburban residential community envelops the cemetery, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
Notable veterans buried at New Albany National Cemetery
The National Cemetery Administration lists these people of note at New Albany National Cemetery, with section and site where it has them.
- Private Alonzo Ash (Civil War). Ash (unknown–1865) holds the distinction of being the first interment, being interred on March 10, 1865. (Section B, Site 1016)
- LTC William Baynard Onley, Jr. (World War II). Onley (1922–1991) was the son of a Marine Corps officer who served for thirty years in both world wars. He served in the Battle of Iwo Jima. Onley was married to Francine L. Onley, and their daughter Patricia Hock worked for the New Albany National Cemetery for over 20 years. (Section G, Site 302)
- SP4 Carlos E. Wilcox, IV (Iraq). Wilcox (1982–2009) was from Cottage Grove, MN, and enlisted in the National Guard. He was deployed to Iraq in May 2009 and died during an attack on Basra. He was one of three National Guard soldiers who were killed during that attack and was only 27 years old. (Section F, Site 135)
Visiting hours at New Albany National Cemetery
Visitation Hours: Open daily from sunrise to sunset. Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Who can be buried at New Albany 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 New Albany 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 New Albany National Cemetery and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.
Where is the New Albany National Cemetery burial schedule?
VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for New Albany 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 New Albany National Cemetery directly at 502-893-3852.
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 Indiana law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in Indiana 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 New Albany 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.
- Magnolia CremationsJeffersonville, IN0.2 mi from the cemetery
- Spring Valley Funeral and CremationNew Albany, IN0.7 mi from the cemetery
- Seabrook Dieckmann & Naville Funeral HomesNew Albany, IN0.8 mi from the cemetery
- Kraft Funeral ServiceNew Albany, IN1.0 mi from the cemetery
- Chapman Funeral HomeClarksville, IN2.4 mi from the cemetery
- Seabrook Dieckmann & Naville - Oak Street ChapelNew Albany, IN2.4 mi from the cemetery
FAQ
Questions about burial at New Albany National Cemetery
Is burial at New Albany 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 New Albany 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 New Albany 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 New Albany 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 New Albany 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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