Burial at West Virginia National Cemetery: A family guide

History of West Virginia National Cemetery

West Virginia National Cemetery is located approximately five miles west of Grafton, WV, in Taylor County. Beginning in the 1960s, it became increasingly apparent that the Grafton National Cemetery was running out of burial space. As a result, West Virginia veterans' organizations began lobbying for a second national cemetery. In 1975, after extensive studies to determine whether or not Grafton could be expanded, authorities determined that the grounds were too steep and the cost too prohibitive. The West Virginia United Veterans National Cemetery Committee was formed and began to pressure the governor and members of the congressional delegation for a new national cemetery.

After extensive negotiations between the Veterans Administration and the state, a 58-acre tract that had been part of the West Virginia Industrial School for Boys was selected for use as a new cemetery. The land was transferred, but construction was delayed by inclement weather and negotiations with local contractors. Although construction was incomplete, the cemetery was dedicated September 27, 1987, and opened for interments the following day.

Monuments and Memorials The Industrial School for Boys monument is a granite memorial that was dedicated in 1992. It was erected in memory of residents of the West Virginia Industrial School for Boys who were buried at the cemetery between 1890 and 1939.

Notable veterans buried at West Virginia National Cemetery

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

• Captain Philip Pindall (Revolutionary War). Pindall (1731–1804) was born in Prince George's County, Maryland, to Thomas and Jane Pindall. During the Revolutionary War, he enlisted as a private in Colonel Lemuel Barrett's Regiment of Maryland Militia before gaining a commission as a Captain on May 16, 1778. Pindall died at the age of 73, and was buried in the Wiseman Graveyard near Lowesville, WV before being reinterred at West Virginia National Cemetery on July 23, 1998. He now rests in Section 1, Site 556.

Eligibility for burial at West Virginia 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 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. 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.

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

Where West Virginia National Cemetery sits in the West Virginia cemetery system

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