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Staunton National Cemetery burial schedule and eligibility

Staunton, Virginia · VA national cemetery

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

VeteranFunerals Editorial·2 min read·May 1, 2026·Facts checked

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

History of Staunton National Cemetery

Staunton National Cemetery is located in the Shenandoah Valley approximately one mile east of downtown Staunton, VA.

The 1.15-acre plot of land was designated a national cemetery in September 1868. Original interments were the remains removed from the city cemetery at Staunton as well as Cross Keys, Port Republic, and the Waynesboro area. Of the original 749 interments, 518 were unknown.

Staunton National Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Monuments and Memorials There are no monuments or memorials located at Staunton National Cemetery.

Notable veterans buried at Staunton National Cemetery

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

  • Buffalo Soldier Nicolae Dunca was born in 1837, in Transylvania, Romania, came to the United States in December 1861. He enlisted in the Union Army in 1862 and due to his past military experience, was appointed captain of the 12th Infantry Regiment. Dunca was killed in action at the Battle of Cross Keys on June 8, 1862, and was still a Romanian citizen at the time of death. He was buried at Perkey's Farm, Cross Keys, VA, and his remains were moved to Staunton (Section B, Site 292).

Visiting hours at Staunton National Cemetery

Visitation Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk. Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Who can be buried at Staunton 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 Staunton 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 Staunton National Cemetery and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.

VA lists Staunton 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 Staunton National Cemetery burial schedule?

VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Staunton 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 Staunton National Cemetery directly at 540-825-0027.

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 Staunton 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. 1.1 mi from the cemetery
  2. 1.4 mi from the cemetery
  3. 1.5 mi from the cemetery
  4. Henry Funeral Home & Cremation Center
    Staunton, VAMilitary honors services
    2.0 mi from the cemetery
  5. 2.2 mi from the cemetery
  6. 4.8 mi from the cemetery

Search all funeral homes by ZIP on FuneralUS

FAQ

Questions about burial at Staunton National Cemetery

  • Is burial at Staunton 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 Staunton 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 Staunton 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 Staunton 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 Staunton 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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