Alabama National Cemetery

Alabama National Cemetery is a VA national cemetery in Montevallo, Alabama. VA lists it as open for burials. Burial is free for eligible veterans, their spouses and dependent children.

Source: National Cemetery Administration (cem.va.gov), retrieved May 2026

History of Alabama National Cemetery

With the passage of the National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003, Congress directed the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish six new national cemeteries in areas with at least 170,000 residents not currently served by burial locations for veterans, including central Alabama.

At the time NCA purchased the site of Alabama National Cemetery, the property was used for agricultural purposes. Alabama National Cemetery was formally dedicated in 2008, and opened for burials the following year. Alabama National Cemetery is the third national cemetery built in the state and the 129th in the national cemetery system. The first burials commenced on June 25, 2009.

In 2011, Alabama National Cemetery completed construction of the cemetery support facilities including the Public Information Center, main entrance with Avenue of Flags, memorial wall with flag circle, offices and maintenance facilities, columbarium, committal shelters, and memorial walkway. The design and layout received an honor award from the Alabama Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Prior to development and use as a national cemetery, the land had a long and culturally-varied history. During the Colonial period the Muskogee tribe, also known as the Creeks, lived in central Alabama. By the early 19th century, European-American encroachment led to a division within the Creek society between a partially-assimilated faction, and those that sought to return to their traditional culture and religion. Tensions culminated in the Creek War (1813–1814) which began as a tribal civil war but became intertwined with the War of 1812 when the U.S. government allied with the assimilated Creeks. The Creek War ended with the Treaty of Fort Jackson, which ceded much of the tribal territory in Georgia and Alabama to the United States.

Four years after taking control of the territory the Alabama Territorial General Assembly created Shelby County from some of the former Creek Indian territory on February 7, 1818. Shelby County was named after Isaac Shelby, Revolutionary War hero and first governor of Kentucky. Alabama became a state one year later in 1819.

Abundant iron and coal deposits are found throughout Shelby County. As early as the 1820s, settlers began to establish small-scale forges to smith iron ore. Production gradually increased in the coming decades, and during the Civil War local iron works produced war materiel for the Confederacy. Nevertheless, the county's economy was predominantly agricultural; growing primarily cotton.

By the early 20th century, labor-intensive cotton production gave way to a more diversified set of crops; corn, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans were typical.

The population of Shelby County began to grow steadily in the 1970s, as new housing developments were constructed for workers commuting into Birmingham, the largest city in the state. In the following decades growth accelerated; from 1970 to 2010, the county's population quadrupled. The rapid population growth included veterans, which led to a need for the national cemetery. At the time of the 2006 nationwide study, Alabama had the largest number per capita of active and retired military servicemen and women outside of a "reasonable proximity" to a national cemetery.

Notable interments

The National Cemetery Administration lists these people of note buried at Alabama National Cemetery, with section and site where recorded.

Directions

From Interstate 65, take Exit 234 (Shelby County Airport). Turn left on Hwy 87 (this turns into Hwy 12). Travel on Hwy 12 (approximately 1.5 miles to stop sign). Turn right on Hwy 22. Travel 2.8 miles to traffic light. Turn left on Hwy 119 South. Travel 1.3 miles, the cemetery will be on the right.

Flowers and grounds rules

Our cemetery floral regulations exist only to reflect the honor and respect we hold for our Nation's Veterans, by preserving the dignity and solemnity of their final resting place.

Floral arrangements accompanying the casket or urn at the time of burial will be placed as follows, a maximum of three will be placed on the grave and the remainder will be placed at a central location.

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

Where is the Alabama National Cemetery burial schedule?

VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Alabama 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 Alabama National Cemetery directly at 205-665-9039.

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 Alabama law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in Alabama 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.

Nearest cemeteries

The three veterans cemeteries closest to Alabama National Cemetery, by straight-line distance:

• Fort McClellan EPW Cemetery, Anniston, AL: 72 mi, closed to new in-ground burials
• Fort McClellan Post Cemetery, Anniston, AL: 110 mi, closed to new in-ground burials
• Fort Mitchell National Cemetery, Fort Mitchell, AL: 118 mi, open for burials