VA National Cemeteries
Togus National Cemetery (West) burial schedule and eligibility
Togus, Maine · VA national cemetery
Address, hours, directions and contact details: Togus National Cemetery (West).
You can look up burials at Togus National Cemetery (West) 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 Togus National Cemetery (West) as closed to new burials, so ask the scheduling office whether an existing family gravesite can be used.
History of Togus National Cemetery (West)
Togus National Cemetery is located in Kennebec County, in the town of Chelsea, ME, on the grounds of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical and Regional Office Center.
The name Togus comes from the Native American name Worromontogus, which means "mineral water." The Togus property was originally a summer resort called Togus Springs. It was owned and operated by Horace Beals, a wealthy granite merchant from Rockland, ME, who hoped to establish a racing and resort community like Saratoga Springs, NY. He invested over $250,000 in a hotel, stables, bowling alley, farmhouse, bathhouse, driveways and racetrack. The untimely resort opened in 1859 but failed to generate business due to the Civil War. The resort, known locally as "Beals' Folly," closed in 1863. Beals died shortly after his business failed and the government obtained the property for $50,000. The spot was selected because of its isolation from large cities, well-known spring and bargain price tag.
In 1865, as the Civil War was drawing to a close, President Abraham Lincoln signed an act establishing the National Asylum (later changed to Home) for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The Eastern Branch at Togus was the first of these facilities to open, in November 1866.
The first veteran was admitted to Togus on November 10, 1866. The home's population remained below 400 until a building program began in 1868, which eventually provided accommodation for nearly 3,000 veterans. The facilities were organized much like a military camp with men living in barracks and wearing modified Army uniforms. Although a 100-bed hospital was completed in 1870, medical care at the home was limited, even by the standards of the day.
Notable veterans buried at Togus National Cemetery (West)
The National Cemetery Administration lists these people of note at Togus National Cemetery (West), 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:
- Landsman John Preston (Civil War). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army on board the USS Oneida during the Battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama, August 5, 1864. Preston died in 1885 and is buried in Section H, Site 456.
- Private David John Scannell (Boxer Rebellion). He received the Medal of Honor as a U.S. Marine during the Boxer Rebellion. His citation reads: "In the presence of the enemy during the action at Peking, China, 21 July to 17 August 1900. Throughout this period, Scannell distinguished himself by meritorious conduct." Scannell died as a resident of the Soldiers Home on May 7, 1923, and is buried in Section C, Site 3955.
Visiting hours at Togus National Cemetery (West)
Visitation Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk. Office Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Massachusetts National Cemetery. Open Memorial Day. Closed all other federal holidays.
Who can be buried at Togus National Cemetery (West)?
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 Togus National Cemetery (West)?
- 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 Togus National Cemetery (West) and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.
VA lists Togus National Cemetery (West) as closed. Ask the scheduling office what, if anything, can still be arranged here, and about open national cemeteries nearby.
Where is the Togus National Cemetery (West) burial schedule?
VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Togus National Cemetery (West) 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 Togus National Cemetery (West) directly at 508-563-7113.
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 Maine law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in Maine 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 Togus National Cemetery (West)
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.
- Knowlton & Hewins Funeral HomeAugusta, ME4.3 mi from the cemetery
- Staples Funeral HomeGardiner, MEMilitary honors services4.5 mi from the cemetery
- Knowlton & Hewins IncAugusta, ME6.3 mi from the cemetery
- Staples Funeral ServiceGardiner, ME6.4 mi from the cemetery
- Plummer Funeral Home - WindsorWindsor, MEMilitary honors services7.1 mi from the cemetery
- Plummer Funeral HomeWindsor, ME8.0 mi from the cemetery
FAQ
Questions about burial at Togus National Cemetery (West)
Is burial at Togus National Cemetery (West) 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 Togus National Cemetery (West) 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 Togus National Cemetery (West)?
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 Togus National Cemetery (West)?
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 Togus National Cemetery (West)?
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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