Burial at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery: A family guide

History of Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery

Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery is the second national cemetery built in Ohio and the 119th in the national cemetery system.

Currently, there are more than one million veterans living in the State of Ohio and approximately 540,000 residing in the cemetery’s service area. The first two phases of construction, covering 65 acres of 273-acre cemetery, included 21,000 gravesites, 10,100 columbaria niches and 3,800 in-ground garden niches for cremated remains. At full capacity, Ohio Western Reserve can provide burial space for 106,000 eligible veterans and dependents, beyond the year 2050.

Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery lies approximately 45 miles south of Cleveland in Medina County near the town of Seville. The cemetery’s name refers to the part of the Northwest Territory formerly known as the Connecticut Western Reserve, a tract of land in Northeast Ohio reserved by the State of Connecticut when it ceded its claims for western lands to the U.S. government in 1786.

Monuments and Memorials Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery features a pathway that is lined with memorials that honor America’s veterans, which have been donated by various organizations. As of 2017, there were 139 memorials, most commemorating events and troops of 20th century war.

Notable veterans buried at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery

The National Cemetery Administration documents the following veterans of note buried at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, listed by section and site as recorded in the cemetery's official register.

• Under Development.

Eligibility for burial at Ohio Western Reserve 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 sunrise to sunset. Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day. 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.

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

Where Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery sits in the Ohio cemetery system

Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in Ohio. The cemetery is currently accepting new in-ground and columbarium interments. Families should verify status before planning.

For families considering alternatives, the nearest veteran cemeteries appear in our cemetery sidebar. If Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery is fully reserved, those alternatives are typically the next options.