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VA National Cemeteries

Philadelphia National Cemetery burial schedule and eligibility

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · VA national cemetery

Address, hours, directions and contact details: Philadelphia National Cemetery.

VeteranFunerals Editorial·3 min read·May 1, 2026·Facts checked

You can look up burials at Philadelphia 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. VA lists Philadelphia National Cemetery as closed to new burials, so ask the scheduling office whether an existing family gravesite can be used.

History of Philadelphia National Cemetery

Philadelphia National Cemetery is located in Philadelphia County, PA, two miles north of Germantown in the city of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia National Cemetery was one of 14 national cemeteries established in 1862, and it was one of several established near large troop-recruitment and training areas. In its first year, the cemetery was composed of burial lots in seven different locations that were either donated to or purchased by the federal government. These were intended to be used specifically for soldiers who died in one of the many hospitals in the Philadelphia area. In 1885, the United States purchased a little over 13 acres from Henry J. and Susan B. Freeman to concentrate the scattered remains of soldiers into one geographic location. The remains were disinterred and consolidated at this location, occupied by Philadelphia National Cemetery today.

Philadelphia National Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Monuments and Memorials The Mexican War Monument is a marble obelisk that was erected by the Scott Legion in honor of 38 men who served and died in that conflict. The men were originally buried at Glenwood Cemetery and were re-interred at Philadelphia National Cemetery in 1927. The date of dedication is unknown.

Notable veterans buried at Philadelphia National Cemetery

The National Cemetery Administration lists these people of note at Philadelphia National Cemetery, with section and site where it has them.

  • 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:
  • Seaman Alphonse Girandy. Alphonse Girandy was born in the French West Indies and he immigrated to the United States. In 1896 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and received naturalized citizenship. Seaman Girandy served on the USS Brooklyn during his first tour, and in 1899 he re-enlisted. Between 1900 and 1904 Girandy was on the USS Petrel when, in 1901, the ship caught fire. His actions, "fearlessly exposing own life to danger for the saving of others," were recognized in March 1902 when Girandy received the Medal of Honor. As a civilian, he lived in Philadelphia, where he died on April 3, 1941. He is buried in Section N, Site 66.
  • Major General Galusha Pennypacker (Civil War). Pennypacker received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, 97th Pennsylvania Infantry, for actions at Fort Fisher, North Carolina, January 15, 1865. Pennypacker died in 1916 and is buried in Section OFF, Site 175.
  • Other Burials Sixty-six Buffalo Soldiers.

Visiting hours at Philadelphia National Cemetery

Visitation Hours: Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset. Office Hours: This cemetery is administered by Washington Crossing National Cemetery.

Who can be buried at Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia National Cemetery?

  1. 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).
  2. 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.
  3. You or the funeral director call 800-535-1117 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET) to request Philadelphia National Cemetery and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.

VA lists Philadelphia National Cemetery as closed. Ask the scheduling office what, if anything, can still be arranged here, and about open national cemeteries nearby.

Where is the Philadelphia National Cemetery burial schedule?

VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia National Cemetery directly at 215-222-7510.

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 Pennsylvania law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in Pennsylvania 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 Philadelphia 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.

  1. 0.4 mi from the cemetery
  2. 0.7 mi from the cemetery
  3. Batchelor Brothers, Inc.
    Philadelphia, PA
    0.7 mi from the cemetery
  4. 0.9 mi from the cemetery
  5. 1.4 mi from the cemetery
  6. 1.5 mi from the cemetery

Search all funeral homes by ZIP on FuneralUS

FAQ

Questions about burial at Philadelphia National Cemetery

  • Is burial at Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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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