VA National Cemeteries
Richmond National Cemetery burial schedule and eligibility
Richmond, Virginia · VA national cemetery
Address, hours, directions and contact details: Richmond National Cemetery.
You can look up burials at Richmond 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 Richmond National Cemetery as closed to new burials, so ask the scheduling office whether an existing family gravesite can be used.
History of Richmond National Cemetery
Richmond National Cemetery is located in Henrico County, VA, about three miles east of the state capital. The cemetery lies just within the fortification lines constructed by the Confederate army during its defense of Richmond during the Civil War. Three of the cemetery's 10 acres were purchased in July 1867 from William Slater; additional acreage was subsequently purchased in 1868 and 1906.
The first burials at Richmond National Cemetery were reinterments from Oakwood and Hollywood cemeteries in Richmond, the cemetery at Belle Island Confederate Prison, the battlefields of Cold Harbor and Seven Pines, and from locations in Chesterfield and Hanover counties, VA.
Richmond National Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.
Monuments and Memorials This cemetery contains no monuments or memorials.
Notable veterans buried at Richmond National Cemetery
The National Cemetery Administration lists these people of note at Richmond National Cemetery, with section and site where it has them.
- Joseph Anthony Baar (1947–1968) was born in Virginia and he graduated from Highland Springs High School, Richmond, before joining the U.S. Navy. Fireman Baar was one of 99 sailors onboard the nuclear submarine, USS Scorpion, when she disappeared in May 1968. The wreckage of the submarine was found off the coast of the Azores in October that year; the 12 officers and 87 crewmen perished. The cause of the disaster is not known. A memorial service for Baar was held in June 1968. In May 2018, the navy observed the fiftieth anniversary of the loss of the Scorpion with a ceremony attended by the descendants of the lost crew. Baar is memorialized in Richmond National Cemetery (Section 4A).
Visiting hours at Richmond National Cemetery
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 and Veterans Day.
Who can be buried at Richmond 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 Richmond 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 Richmond National Cemetery and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.
VA lists Richmond 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 Richmond National Cemetery burial schedule?
VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Richmond 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 Richmond National Cemetery directly at 804-795-2031.
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 Virginia law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in Virginia 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 Richmond 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.
- Rainey's Funeral HomeRichmond, VA0.2 mi from the cemetery
- Walter J. Manning Funeral HomeRichmond, VA1.9 mi from the cemetery
- Nelsen Richmond Funeral HomeRichmond, VA2.2 mi from the cemetery
- Chiles Funeral HomeRichmond, VA2.2 mi from the cemetery
- Scott-Lightfoot Funeral HomeRichmond, VA2.9 mi from the cemetery
- Wilson & Associates Funeral ServiceRichmond, VA3.0 mi from the cemetery
FAQ
Questions about burial at Richmond National Cemetery
Is burial at Richmond 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 Richmond 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 Richmond 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 Richmond 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 Richmond 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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