Burial at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery: A family guide

History of Sacramento Valley National Cemetery

Sacramento Valley National Cemetery is the seventh national cemetery built in California and the 124th in the national cemetery system.

Like many lands in the western United States, the Homestead Act of 1862 facilitated the settlement of the site of what is now the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery. In the late 1860's, the site consisted of nine separate parcels, which were subsequently acquired by private citizens through preemption (an individual's right to settle land first and pay for it later) and homestead claims. During the 20th century, these separate parcels were gradually consolidated under one owner. The site was continuously used as farmland from the 1860's until it was purchased by the National Cemetery Administration in 2004. Crops raised on the property at the time of NCA's purchase included corn, alfalfa, beans, squash, and peppers.

The Union Pacific Railroad, formerly the Southern Pacific Railroad, and prior to that the Central Pacific Railroad, intersects the southeastern corner of the property. In May 1869, the famous golden spike was driven in Promontory Summit, Utah, to symbolically mark the completion of the "First Trans-Continental Railroad," connecting Omaha, Nebraska, to Sacramento. However, the rail network did not actually reach the Pacific Ocean until the completion of the Central Pacific Railroad, connecting San Francisco and Sacramento in November of that year.

The First Trans-Continental Railroad linked the West Coast with the existing railroad network in the eastern United States, and contributed dramatically to the economic development and population growth of California. The Southern Pacific Railroad leased the Central Pacific railroad in 1885; over time, the Southern Pacific Railroad grew into a massive railway network throughout the Western and Southwestern United Sates, stretching down from Portland, Oregon to New Orleans. The Southern Pacific Railroad was acquired by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1996.

Notable veterans buried at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery

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

• Newman Camay Golden was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on October 12, 1919. He joined the Army Air Corps during World War II, graduated from the Tuskegee pilot training program in 1944, and served with the 99th Fighter Group in Italy. Photographer Toni Frissell recorded the Tuskegee Airmen stationed at Ramitelli in 1945. Flight Officer Golden appears in several photographs. Soon after, on March 20, during a bomber escort mission over Austria, Golden parachuted from his damaged aircraft. He was imprisoned at Moosburg until Allied forces arrived to liberate the camp. Golden then enlisted to serve in the Korean War. On October 17, 1951, 1st Lieutenant Golden's aircraft was hit, burst into flames and crashed. Golden was missing in action until March 31, 1954, when his status changed to killed in action. 1st LT Golden received the Purple Heart, and in July 2014, a memorial for him took place at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery (Section MW, Row A, Site 01-A).
• Staff Sergeant Jake Melvin Larson (World War II.) Larson (1922–2025), also known as "Papa Jake," was born in Hope, Minnesota. He lied about his age to enlist in the Minnesota National Guard in 1938, joining up before his sixteenth birthday. He served with the 34th Infantry Division during World War II and landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. Larson also fought at the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Bronze Star and the French Legion of Honor for his service. Larson began an unlikely second career as a TikTok creator when his granddaughter posted a video about his military service. After gaining popularity on TikTok, in 2021, he wrote The Luckiest Man in the World: Stories from the Life of Papa Jake. He now rests in Section 30, Site 339.

Eligibility for burial at Sacramento Valley 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 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Open all holidays except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's 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. NCA will assess adding other options and national cemeteries in the future.

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

Where Sacramento Valley National Cemetery sits in the California cemetery system

Sacramento Valley National Cemetery is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in California. 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 Sacramento Valley National Cemetery is fully reserved, those alternatives are typically the next options.